A5583

An Act concerning the New Jersey Maternal Stroke Prevention and Preeclampsia Protection Initiative 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 establish the New Jersey Maternal Stroke Prevention and Preeclampsia Protection Initiative in the Department of Health. The purpose of the initiative shall be to identify and implement new, and expand existing, measures and legislative proposals, including those currently being employed in healthcare settings, that would help prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes related to hypertensive disorders.

b. The initiative shall require a licensed health care professional who provides maternity care services to a patient to:

(1) conduct a standardized preeclampsia, hypertension, and stroke risk assessment during pregnancy, the postpartum period, and prior to discharge following the end of the patient’s pregnancy;

(2) conduct blood pressure monitoring during the postpartum period for the patient when medically appropriate, during an office visit or remotely, and schedule a follow up visit, during an office visit or via telehealth, within seven to 10 days postpartum if the patient is diagnosed with a hypertensive disorder related to pregnancy; and

(3) receive training in, and complete continuing education on: how to recognize preeclampsia, postpartum hypertension, and maternal stroke; evidence-based treatment guidelines; and strategies to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes related to hypertensive disorders;

c. As part of the initiative established pursuant to subsection a. of this act, the Commissioner of Health shall:

(1) create a public awareness campaign to educate pregnant persons and their families about preeclampsia, maternal stroke, high blood pressure during pregnancy, and postpartum hypertension and the importance of seeking care to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes related to such hypertensive disorders; and

(2) identify the methods needed to implement new, and expand existing, measures and legislative proposals, including those currently being employed in healthcare settings, deemed necessary to achieve the purpose of the initiative as enumerated in subsection a. of this section.

2. a. The Commissioner of Health shall report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), on the initiative no later than two years after the date that the initiative becomes operational.

b. The report shall include a detailed summary of: the activities of the initiative; any recommendations on the implementation of new, or the expansion of existing, measures and legislative proposals that would prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes related to hypertensive disorders; and any other information that the commissioner deems necessary to achieve the purposes of the initiative.

3. The Commissioner of Health shall adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to implement the provisions of this act.

4. This act shall take effect on the first day of the third month next following enactment.

STATEMENT

This bill requires the Commissioner of Health (the commissioner) to shall establish the New Jersey Maternal Stroke Prevention and Preeclampsia Protection Initiative in the Department of Health to identify and implement new, and expand, existing measures and legislative proposals, including those already being implemented in healthcare settings, that would help prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes related to hypertensive disorders.

Under the initiative, licensed health care professionals who provide maternity care services to patients are to: conduct standardized preeclampsia, hypertension, and stroke risk assessments and blood pressure monitoring for patients during pregnancy, the postpartum period, and prior to discharge after at the end of pregnancy; and undergo specific trainings and continuing education courses on hypertensive disorders related to pregnancy as outlined in the bill.

As part of the initiative, the commissioner is to: (1) create a public awareness campaign to educate pregnant persons and their families about hypertensive disorders related to pregnancy; and (2) identify the methods needed to implement new, and expand existing, measures and legislative proposals deemed necessary to achieve the purpose of the initiative.

The bill requires the commissioner to report to the Governor and the Legislature on the initiative no later than two years after the initiative becomes operational, including a summary of: the activities of the initiative; any recommendations on new or existing measures or legislative proposals relating to the prevention of adverse pregnancy outcomes related to hypertensive disorders; and any other information that the commissioner deems necessary to achieve the purpose of the initiative.