ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2655  

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  NOVEMBER 20, 2023

      The Assembly Health Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 2655.

     As amended by the committee, this bill requires health care professionals providing prenatal care to ensure that each pregnant woman has the opportunity to develop a comprehensive personalized postpartum care plan that is consistent with her anticipated postpartum needs and plans.  If the woman does not have a postpartum assessment and individualized care plan, the health care professional is to offer to consult with the woman to develop a plan. 

     The bill additionally requires facilities providing maternity care services, including general hospitals, ambulatory care facilities, and birthing centers, to ensure that, prior to discharge following the end of a pregnancy, pregnancy loss, or stillbirth, each woman receiving maternity care services is provided with postpartum care information, including information concerning the potential health issues that may occur during the postpartum period, or after a pregnancy loss or stillbirth, and a description of the risks, warning signs, and symptoms of medically-significant complications that may occur during the postpartum period, or after a pregnancy loss or stillbirth, including, but not limited to, worsening of mental health or substance use disorders, postpartum pre-eclampsia, seizures, blood clots, severe bleeding, and infection. 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments:

      1) place the conditions of “pregnancy loss” and “stillbirth” alongside the postpartum period for the purposes of the bill;

      2) expand and revise the information that is to be provided to women on complications that may occur during the postpartum period or after a pregnancy loss or stillbirth;

      3) update the title and synopsis of the bill to reflect these changes;

      4) provide that postpartum information is to be provided in consultation with and following the guidance of the Department of Health and the Maternal Care Quality Collaborative;

      5) remove the provision providing that, at a minimum, the plan is to include the designation of a medical home where the woman may access care and support during the period between the end of the pregnancy and the comprehensive postpartum visit;

      6) provide that the Department of Health is to develop a standard postpartum assessment and individualized care plan and distribute such plan to healthcare professionals who provide prenatal maternity care; and

      7) provide that if a woman does not have a postpartum assessment and individualized care plan, the health care professional is to offer to consult with the woman to develop a plan.