ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1700

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 6, 2025

      The Assembly Health Committee reports favorably with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 1700.

As amended by the committee, this bill provides for increased public education and patient screening in relation to the perinatal mood disorder known as perinatal anxiety. The bill directs the Commissioner of Health (commissioner), in conjunction with the Board of Medical Examiners and the Board of Nursing, to work with health care facilities and licensed health care professionals in the State to develop policies and procedures to effectuate the following requirements:

     Physicians, nurse midwives, and other licensed health care professionals who provide prenatal care will be required to provide prenatal patients and their family members with complete information about perinatal anxiety, including the symptoms of the disorder, methods for coping with the disorder, and a list of available treatment resources, and would additionally be required to screen prenatal patients for perinatal anxiety at least once during each trimester of pregnancy; 

     All birthing facilities will be required to provide departing new mothers and fathers, and, as appropriate, other family members, with complete information about perinatal anxiety, including the symptoms of the disorder, methods for coping with the disorder, and a list of available treatment resources;

     Physicians, nurse midwives, and other licensed health care professionals who provide postnatal care will be required to screen new mothers for perinatal anxiety prior to the mother’s discharge from the birthing facility, and again at the first few postnatal check-up visits; and

     Physicians, nurse midwives, and other licensed health care professionals who provide prenatal or postnatal care will be required to include fathers and other family members, as appropriate, in both the education and treatment processes.

     Screening would be accomplished either through the use of the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS) – a recently developed screening test that has been recognized for its ability to correctly identify women with anxiety disorders, and recommended for use by medical professionals in the screening of pregnant women and new mothers for perinatal anxiety – or through the use of another scale or test that has been approved by the commissioner for such screening purposes. 

      Provided there are sufficient funds available, the bill would additionally require the commissioner to develop a public awareness campaign that is designed to inform the general public about the nature and causes of perinatal anxiety and its health implications, including the symptoms of the disorder, methods of coping with the disorder, and the most effective means of treatment.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments make the public awareness campaign subject to the availability of funding.