ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 1996

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 15, 2025

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 1996 (1R).

      As amended and reported, this bill directs every birthing center licensed in the State, every federally qualified health center, and every health care practitioner providing prenatal care to a pregnant person or postpartum care to a person who seeks treatment within 12 weeks of giving birth to adopt and adhere to policies requiring the person to be evaluated, as necessary, for hypertensive disorders related to pregnancy, including, but not limited to, postpartum preeclampsia and hypertension, provided that the person shows symptoms of the condition and has not in the current or recent pregnancy previously been diagnosed with the condition, or after the onset of such symptoms.  Evaluation tools are to be based on best practices and guidance, as determined by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists or another nationally-recognized body.

      Under the bill, these same entities providing the same types of care are required to, in accordance with nationally recognized evidence-based treatment practices:

      (1)  provide the person with evidence-based information on hypertensive disorders related to pregnancy preeclampsia, including, but not limited to, postpartum preeclampsia and hypertension and potential warning signs and symptoms;

      (2)  inform the person of the benefits of being evaluated for hypertensive disorders related to pregnancy preeclampsia, including, but not limited to, postpartum preeclampsia and hypertension, if the person shows symptoms of any such disorders, and that the person should be evaluated for hypertensive disorders related to pregnancy under the circumstances set forth in the bill, unless the person declines to be evaluated; and

      (3)  upon receipt of the results of any evaluation conducted pursuant to the bill, discuss the results with the person and, if the person has a positive evaluation for preeclampsia, develop an evidence-based treatment plan to minimize the person’s risk from preeclampsia

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments:

      1)   remove the term “hospital” from section 1;

      2)   remove the roles of the Commissioner of Health and State Board of Medical Examiners in determining best practices;

      3)   remove the provision regarding home blood pressure monitoring;

      4)   replace the term “screening” with the term “evaluation”;

      5)   clarify that the bill applies to providers who provide prenatal or postpartum care within 12 weeks of birth;

      6)   remove references to the Commissioner of Health from section 1;

      7)   revise the bill’s effective date;  

      8)   remove subsection c. of section 1;

      9)   make various stylistic changes; and

      10)  revise the synopsis and title to reflect the amendments.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Office of Legislative Services determines that, to the extent that individuals covered under NJ FamilyCare, the State’s Medicaid program, receive additional or more intensive treatment, in the form of evaluation for and counseling concerning hypertensive disorders related to pregnancy, NJ FamilyCare expenditures would increase by an indeterminate amount annually.  These expenditures would be eligible for additional federal Medicaid matching funds, thereby increasing State revenues by an indeterminate amount.

      There is the potential for annual cost savings under the NJ FamilyCare program if the bill’s requirements were to cause positive health outcomes that reduce future treatment costs.