Posted on October 9, 2025
Updated May 2026
Authored by:
Senior Policy Analyst
Celebrate Babies Week will take place October 20 through 24, and this year, New Jersey babies -along with their families and select pediatric practices throughout the state- are celebrating a major milestone. As of July 1, 2025, pediatric practices serving families participating in NJ FamilyCare that have also adopted the HealthySteps program model are now eligible for an enhanced payment rate for well-child and sick visit claims submitted for children under four years of age. This is a major first step towards the sustainability of the HealthySteps program in New Jersey.
HealthySteps, a program of ZERO TO THREE, is a national, evidence‐based program that serves young children from birth through age three and their families in pediatric healthcare settings. Child development and behavioral health promotion and prevention professionals, known as HealthySteps Specialists, are housed in the doctor's office as part of the primary care team. They serve as liaisons between the child and family and the healthcare team and facilitate the delivery of a range of services including:
- Screening for age-appropriate child development, behavioral health, and social-emotional health;
- Assessment of family needs, including caregiver depression screening, health-related social needs, and identifying any other risk factors;
- Family Support Line (call, text, email, etc.);
- Educational resources and consults for early development, positive parenting, and child behavior;
- Care coordination and systems navigation—including referrals to services by community-based organizations and other specialists; and
- Team-based well-child visits.
This approach is non‐stigmatizing and provides universal access, since nearly all young children regularly see a pediatric primary care provider. Having a HealthySteps Specialist available on site also removes the burden from parents to navigate an often complicated mental and behavioral health system.
HealthySteps was first launched in New Jersey as a philanthropically‐funded initiative in 3 pediatric practices serving low‐income communities through a partnership with Hackensack Meridian Health, The Burke Foundation, The Nicholson Foundation, and the Turrell Fund. The program has since grown to 9 pediatric practices with funding as part of a federal Transforming Pediatrics in Early Childhood (TPEC) grant awarded to the New Jersey Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, as well as funding through the Bureau of Primary Health Care. Since 2020, over 12,000 NJ babies have benefitted from the HealthySteps program in pediatric practices located throughout the state.
Studies on HealthySteps Participants Have Shown:
- Children were more likely to attend all of the first 10 recommended well-child visits.
- Children were 8x more likely to receive a developmental assessment and had significantly higher rates of developmental and other nonmedical referrals.
- Mothers had significantly higher rates of maternal depression referrals and were 4x more likely to receive information on community resources.
- Mothers felt significantly more supported to breastfeed and had higher rates of continued breastfeeding. (longer than 6 months)
- Families were significantly less likely to report harsh punishment (yelling, spanking with hand) and severe discipline (face slap, spanking with objects).
- Families were significantly more likely to share picture books and play with their infants daily.
While HealthySteps is remarkably affordable, at around $50-80 per child, per year, sustainable funding pathways are necessary for continued and expanded access for New Jersey families. The enhanced reimbursement is intended to support the practice with HealthySteps associated costs, including but not limited to HealthySteps services and the required HealthySteps Specialist. Enhanced reimbursement will be provided regardless of the individual level of HealthySteps service received by the NJ FamilyCare child at the office on that date of service, or during that billed pediatric primary care visit. At the present time, Federally Qualified Health Centers are not eligible for the enhanced payment.
Also, In January 2026, landmark legislation expanding access to preventive behavioral health care for children was signed into law. This new law requires Medicaid and commercial insurers to cover mental health services for children who are at risk or showing early signs of mental health challenges, before a formal diagnosis is required. New Jersey is the first state in the nation to take this important step. Under the new law, preventive services such as counseling, family guidance, and education, along with brief intervention services, can be billed to Medicaid and state-regulated commercial health plans using at-risk screening (or Z-codes), without requiring a formal psychiatric diagnosis. Prior to the law, behavioral health providers would not be reimbursed unless a child or adolescent already met criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis.
The HealthySteps National Office at ZERO TO THREE provides onboarding, training, technical assistance, and ongoing professional development for HealthySteps sites, as well as managing annual data reporting and ensuring model fidelity. For more information, please visit the HealthySteps website or contact Pam Tew, ZERO TO THREE HealthySteps Sustainability Manager at ptew@zerotothree.org.
Our state’s future depends on healthy beginnings. Let’s demand a future where all mothers and babies thrive.
