New Jersey med spas face shutdown after state ends COVID-era nurse independence rule. Clinics must find supervising doctors within 30 days or close, sparking safety and access-to-care debate.
WEBDESK | MediaBites | Feb. 5, 2026
A booming billion-dollar wellness industry in New Jersey is facing a sudden regulatory shock after the state rolled back COVID-era rules that allowed nurse practitioners to operate clinics without physician supervision — leaving hundreds of med spas scrambling to stay open.
Under the change, Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) have just 30 days — until Feb. 16 — to find a supervising physician or shut down.
For many owners, the countdown feels existential.
“We worked really hard to get here. It sucks,” said Jenn Plescia, who runs an IV therapy spa in Point Pleasant and now must partner with a doctor to keep operating.
A pandemic rule that created a new industry
During the COVID crisis in 2020, overwhelmed hospitals pushed then-Governor Phil Murphy to temporarily expand nurses’ autonomy. The order allowed nurse practitioners to diagnose, treat, and run clinics independently.
The move dramatically expanded access to care, but it also sparked an unexpected boom: medical spas offering IV vitamin drips, hormone therapy, Botox, and cosmetic treatments.
Since then:
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Around 60% of New Jersey’s 1,000+ med spas opened after COVID
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The sector generates an estimated $1.3–$1.6 billion annually
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Many nurses left hospitals to launch private wellness practices
Patients embraced convenience. One pregnant patient paid $380 for a home IV infusion rather than visit an emergency room — and said it was “worth every penny.”
Celebrity promotion of IV drips and wellness infusions further fueled demand.
Why regulators pulled the plug
Critics — especially physician groups — say the industry expanded faster than safety oversight.
They warn that complications from elective treatments can include:
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severe allergic reactions
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nerve injury
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tissue damage
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stroke or cardiac failure from IV errors
A 2023 death in Texas following an infusion treatment intensified scrutiny nationwide. Regulators argue that physician oversight is essential for patient safety.
Medical boards also found some clinics operating beyond license limits, performing procedures without proper authority.
Nurses say it threatens access to care
Nurse practitioners counter that the rule change punishes providers who filled healthcare gaps during the pandemic.
They argue that supervising physicians often:
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Never see patients
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Never enter the clinic
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Simply sign paperwork — while collecting fees
Monthly supervision costs can reach $1,000–$2,000, enough to close smaller practices.
Some providers now consider relocating to states with looser rules.
“This is going to be a public health emergency,” said a psychiatric nurse practitioner, warning many clinicians may leave New Jersey entirely.
A political fight now underway
Lawmakers are debating a bill that could restore independence for nurse practitioners, but the timeline is tight — and passage before the deadline is unlikely.
The debate highlights a deeper question facing healthcare systems worldwide:
Should expanding access to care outweigh traditional physician-led oversight?
For New Jersey’s med spas, the answer must come quickly.
Without it, many doors may close within days.
