Sponsored by:
Senator M. TERESA RUIZ
District 29 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Requires hospital emergency departments to ask person of childbearing age about recent pregnancy history.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on December 12, 2019, with amendments.
An Act concerning hospital emergency departments and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Each hospital licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.) that has an emergency department shall establish standards and protocols to ensure that each 1[woman] person1 of childbearing age who presents at the emergency department is asked whether 1[she] the person1 had a pregnancy that terminated within the past 42 days, including any pregnancy that ended by live birth, stillbirth, miscarriage, or abortion. In the event that a 1[woman] person1 indicates 1[she] the person1 had a pregnancy that terminated within the past 42 days, the hospital shall ensure that any care or treatment provided includes an evaluation of potential complications that may have resulted from the pregnancy or termination of the pregnancy. If the 1[woman] person1 is unresponsive at the time of presentation, the hospital shall make the inquiry as soon as the 1[woman] person1 becomes responsive or by making appropriate inquiries of individuals who may have knowledge of the 1[woman's] person's1 current or recent pregnancy status.
2. The Commissioner of Health shall, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt rules and regulations as shall be necessary to implement the provisions of this act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.