SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[Second Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 1073

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  january 6, 2022

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 1073 (2R).

      As amended, this bill directs the Commissioner of Health to require every hospital in the State, every birthing center licensed in the State pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.), every federally qualified health center, and every physician or health care practitioner in the State providing care to a pregnant person or a person who has given birth, to screen the person for preeclampsia, if the person shows symptoms of the condition.  Screening tools are to be based on industry best practices, as determined by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists or another nationally-recognized body designated by the commissioner.

      A hospital, licensed birthing center, or federally qualified health center providing care to, or a physician or other health care practitioner who is the primary caregiver for, a pregnant person or a person who seeks treatment within six weeks of giving birth, would, in accordance with guidelines developed by the commissioner:  provide the person with information on preeclampsia based on an educational program developed by the commissioner; inform the person of the benefits of being screened for preeclampsia if the person shows symptoms of the condition, and that the person is required to be screened for preeclampsia unless the person provides a written refusal to be screened; screen the person for preeclampsia unless the person provides a written refusal to be screened; and encourage the person to engage in routine home blood pressure monitoring.  The person would be required to acknowledge receipt of the information provided by the hospital, birthing center, federally qualified health center, physician, or health care practitioner, as applicable.  The commissioner will be required to develop a standardized form to be used to acknowledge receipt of the information, which form may also be used to provide written refusal to be screened for preeclampsia.  The commissioner will also be required to develop, in consultation with the Preeclampsia Foundation and any other community-based organization as may be designated by the commissioner, a preeclampsia educational program for pregnant individuals and individuals who have recently given birth. The educational program will include information on preeclampsia and the potential warning signs and symptoms of preeclampsia.

      Upon receipt of the results of a screening conducted pursuant to the bill, a hospital, licensed birthing center, federally qualified health center, or physician or health care practitioner, as applicable, would discuss the results with the person and, if the person screens positive for preeclampsia, develop a treatment plan to minimize the person’s risk from preeclampsia.

      As amended, this bill is identical to Senate Bill No. 3432 (2R), which was also amended and reported by the committee on this date.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments remove a reference to the Preeclampsia Foundation in the language concerning preeclampsia screening tools.

      The committee amendments remove language to clarify that the provisions of this bill are applicable to all hospitals, not just hospitals that provide inpatient maternity services.

      The committee amendments provide that a pregnant person or person who seeks treatment within six weeks of giving birth will receive information on preeclampsia and preeclampsia’s warning signs and symptoms through an educational program developed by the commissioner.

      The committee amendments require that the Commissioner of Health develop, in consultation with the Preeclampsia Foundation and any other community-based organization as may be designated by the commissioner, a preeclampsia educational program for pregnant individuals and individuals who have recently given birth.  The educational program will include information on preeclampsia and the potential warning signs and symptoms of preeclampsia.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      Fiscal information is currently unavailable for this bill.