Sponsored by:
Senator M. TERESA RUIZ
District 29 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Requires hospital emergency departments to ask women of childbearing age about recent pregnancy history.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
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 woman of childbearing age who presents at the emergency department is asked whether she 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 woman indicates she 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 woman is unresponsive at the time of presentation, the hospital shall make the inquiry as soon as the woman becomes responsive or by making appropriate inquiries of individuals who may have knowledge of the woman’s 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.
STATEMENT
This bill requires hospitals with emergency departments to establish standards and protocols to ensure that each woman of childbearing age who presents at the hospital emergency department is asked whether she had a pregnancy that terminated within the past 42 days, including pregnancies that ended in live birth, stillbirth, miscarriage, or abortion. In the event a woman indicates she had a pregnancy that terminated within the past 42 days, the hospital is required to 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 woman is unresponsive at the time of presentation, the inquiries are to be made as soon as she becomes responsive or by making appropriate inquiries of individuals who may have knowledge of the woman’s current or recent pregnancy status.