ASSEMBLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1073

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 25, 2021

      The Assembly Women and Children Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1073.

      This bill mandates the Commissioner of Health to require every hospital that provides inpatient maternity services in the State, every birthing center licensed in the State pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.), or every physician or health care practitioner in the State providing care to a pregnant woman or a woman who has given birth to administer to the woman a test for preeclampsia, if the woman shows symptoms of the condition.  The tests would include, but not be limited to, blood tests, ultrasonography, and non-stress tests that monitor a baby’s health.

      A hospital or licensed birthing center providing care to, or a physician or other health care practitioner who is the primary caregiver for, a pregnant woman or a woman who seeks treatment within four weeks of giving birth, would, in accordance with guidelines developed by the commissioner: provide the woman with information on preeclampsia; inform the woman of the benefits of being tested for preeclampsia if she shows symptoms of the condition, and that she is required to be tested for preeclampsia unless she indicates in writing her refusal to be tested on a form and in a manner prescribed by the commissioner; and test the woman for preeclampsia unless she indicates her written refusal as hereinabove provided.  The woman would, on the same form acknowledge receipt of the information provided by the hospital, birthing center, physician, or health care practitioner, as applicable, regarding the benefits of being tested for preeclampsia.

      Upon receipt of the results of the test conducted pursuant to the bill, a hospital that provides inpatient maternity services, licensed birthing center, or physician or health care practitioner would discuss the results with a pregnant women or women who has given birth and, if the woman tests positive for preeclampsia, develop a treatment plan to minimize the woman’s risk from preeclampsia.

      Preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders are some of the most common pregnancy-related complications and are a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality.  The incidence of preeclampsia, alone, has increased by 25 percent in the United States over the past two decades.

      The failure of hospitals, birthing centers, physicians, and other health care practitioners to timely recognize and communicate about a patient’s risk factors for preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders, and to adequately identify warning signs of patient deterioration in association with these conditions, often leads to delays in diagnosis and treatment, allows for the development of more severe complications, and increases the likelihood of maternal death stemming from these conditions.

      Requiring hospitals, birthing centers, physicians, and other health care practitioners to administer a preeclampsia test to pregnant women and women who have given birth, if the woman shows symptoms of the condition, would reduce the rate of pregnancy-related complication and death and improve maternal and infant health in New Jersey.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2020-2021 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.