New Jersey bill looks to give easier access to mental health drugs

TRENTON, N.J. (PIX11) — When Krystal Cordero came home from an operation enduring freedom, PTSD followed her along with Military Sexual Trauma, or MST.

“They truly don’t set you up for the violence that you see, the aftermath, the feeling of loneliness, the feeling when you transition out that you no longer have somebody to really talk to,” said Cordero, an Army veteran of Totowa. “I unfortunately had an officer who tried to take advantage of me. He did not succeed but nonetheless, I had to suffer the assault.”

For years after coming home, she endured what many veterans have experienced: having to jump through hoops to get the prescription meds to treat their condition — hoops like step therapy or needing prior authorization.

“It’s almost like you’re dangling a treat in front of them and you’re saying, ‘almost there,’ but not there yet,” said Cordero. “We’re tired of chasing things. We need to be heard.”

Next week in Trenton, lawmakers will discuss a bill that will make it easier for patients with serious mental illnesses like PTSD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, and others to get the medicine they need – by requiring prescription drug coverage without prior authorization, or step therapy, a method of having patients try a less expensive drug first.

“It’s long overdue that our policies protect access to critical prescription medications for folks suffering serious mental illnesses, and insurance companies through step therapy protocols have been blocking access to those critical, potentially lifesaving medications,” said Sen. Raj Mukherji (D-NJ 32nd District), a sponsor of the bill. “It’s time we put an end to that practice today.”

“We want to make sure they receive the help that they need as immediately as we can get it to them,” said Assemblywoman Rosy Bagolie (D-NJ 27th District), “because loss of life is never an option.”

According to NAMI, the average delay between when symptoms first appear and intervention is around 11 years.

“You really don’t want to add in another roadblock of ‘I can’t get the medication I need,'” said Matt Camarda of NAMI New Jersey. “It discourages the person. It breaks trust that they’re trying to build with the providers and also the family members that are probably saying, ‘We want you to get help.'”

The bill is set to be discussed in the Senate Budget and Appropriations meeting in Trenton on Monday.