[Second Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 1073

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  SHANIQUE SPEIGHT

District 29 (Essex)

Assemblywoman  ELIANA PINTOR MARIN

District 29 (Essex)

Assemblywoman  ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT

District 31 (Hudson)

Assemblywoman  BRITNEE N. TIMBERLAKE

District 34 (Essex and Passaic)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywomen Reynolds-Jackson, Jasey, Assemblyman Mukherji, Assemblywomen Jimenez, Tucker, Vainieri Huttle and Downey

SYNOPSIS

     Establishes requirements to screen certain people who are pregnant and who have given birth for preeclampsia.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on June 10, 2021, with amendments.

An Act concerning preeclampsia ²[testing for pregnant women] screenings² and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

     1.    a.  The Commissioner of Health shall require every hospital ¹[that provides inpatient maternity services]¹ in the State, every birthing center licensed in the State pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.), ¹every federally qualified health center, and [or]¹ every physician or health care practitioner in the State providing care to a pregnant ²[woman] person² or a ²[woman] person² who has given birth ²,² to ¹[administer to the woman a test] screen the ²[woman¹] person² for preeclampsia ²[, if the woman] if the person² shows symptoms of the condition.  ¹[The test shall include, but not be limited to, blood tests, ultrasonography, and non-stress tests that monitor a baby’s health] Screening tools shall be based on industry best practices and guidance, as determined by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the ²[American Academy of Family Physicians] Preeclampsia Foundation² , or ²[other nationally recognized] another nationally-recognized² body ²[, as determined] as may be designated² by the commissioner¹ .

     b.    A hospital that provides inpatient maternity services ¹[or], a¹ licensed birthing center ¹, or a federally qualified health center¹ providing care to, or a physician or other health care practitioner who is the primary caregiver for, a pregnant ²[woman] person² or a ²[woman] person² who seeks treatment within ²[four] six² weeks of giving birth, shall, in accordance with guidelines developed by the commissioner:

     (1)   provide the ²[woman] person² with information on preeclampsia ¹and potential warning signs and symptoms¹;

     (2)   inform the ²[woman] person² of the benefits of being ¹[tested] screened¹ for preeclampsia if ²[she] the person² shows symptoms of the condition, and that ²[she] the person² is required to be ¹[tested] screened¹ for preeclampsia unless ²[she] the person^{2 2}[indicates in writing her] issues a written² refusal to be ¹[tested] screened^{1 2}, which refusal shall be provided² on a form and in a manner prescribed by the commissioner ²consistent with the provisions of subsection c. of this section² ; ²[and]²

     (3)   ¹[test] screen¹ the ²[woman] person² for preeclampsia unless ²[she indicates her] the person provides² written refusal as ²[hereinabove]² provided ²in paragraph (2) of this subsection² .  The ²[woman] person² shall, on the ²[same]² form and in a manner prescribed by the commissioner ²consistent with subsection c. of this section² , acknowledge receipt of the information provided by the hospital, birthing center, ²federally qualified health center,² physician, or health care practitioner, as applicable, regarding the benefits of being ¹[tested] screened¹ for preeclampsia ²; and

(4)   encourage the person to routinely engage in home blood pressure monitoring² .

     c.     ²The commissioner shall develop a standardized form to be used for the purposes of providing the acknowledgement required pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection b. of this section, which may also be used to provide written refusal to undergo a screening for preeclampsia pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection b. of this section, if applicable.

d.²  Upon receipt of the results of ¹[the test] any screening¹ conducted pursuant to subsection a. of this section, the hospital ²[that provides inpatient maternity services]² , licensed birthing center, ¹federally qualified health ²[care centers] center² ,¹ or physician or health care practitioner ², as applicable,² shall discuss the results with ²[a pregnant women or women who has given birth] the person² and, if the ²[woman] person has a positive screening^{2 1}[tests positive] ²[screens¹]² for preeclampsia, develop a treatment plan to minimize the ²[woman’s] person’s² risk from preeclampsia.

     2.    The Commissioner of Health, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this act.

     3.    This act shall take effect immediately.