LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 5309

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: MARCH 27, 2025

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Permits up to three credits of continuing medical education on menopause to be used by physicians for license renewal.

Type of Impact:

Annual State expenditure increase.

Agencies Affected:

Department of Health; Department of Law and Public Safety.

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

 

 

Annual State Expenditure Increase

Indeterminate

 

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimates that the bill will increase State expenditures by indeterminate amounts for the Department of Health and the Department of Law and Public Safety, respectively. 

 

·         The OLS estimates Department of Health expenditures would increase to meet the bill’s continuing medical education requirements relating to financial assistance and subsidies, promotional efforts, partnerships, and establishment of an advisory committee. 

 

·         Additionally, the Board of Medical Examiners in the Department of Law and Public Safety’s Division of Consumer Affairs may incur expenditure increases from a one-time update of approved continuing medical education to include courses related to menopause and women’s health.

 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill permits up to three credits of continuing medical education on menopause to be used by physicians for license renewal.

      Under the bill, the State Board of Medical Examiners in the Division of Consumer Affairs is to require that the number of credits of continuing medical education required to be licensed as a physician, as a condition of biennial registration pursuant to State law, include up to three optional credits of educational programs or topics concerning menopause.  Under the bill, physicians who choose to complete the menopause and women’s health education modules are to receive continuing medical education credits toward their required 100 continuing medical education credits for license renewal.  These credits are to count toward the total continuing medical education hours required, which includes a focus on patient safety, medical ethics, and other essential medical topics.  In addition to receiving continuing medical education credits, physicians who complete these modules are to be eligible for: financial assistance or subsidies to offset the cost of the training programs; public recognition or certification for completing menopause and women’s health education module; and specialized continuing medical education tracks that include menopause and women’s health education for physicians practicing in relevant specialties like obstetrics, gynecology, and internal medicine, as determined by the Department of Health.

      The Department of Health is required to actively promote awareness of the available menopause and women’s health education programs through various medical associations, healthcare networks, and continuing education platforms.

      The Department of Health is required to partner with medical schools, hospitals, and professional organizations to integrate menopause and women’s health education into their continuing medical education offerings, ensuring that the training remains relevant and up-to-date with the latest research and best practices.

      The Commissioner of Health is required to establish an advisory committee to monitor the effectiveness of the training programs and assess participation.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS estimates that the bill will increase State expenditures by indeterminate amounts for the Department of Health and Department of Law and Public Safety, respectively.

      Department of Health Expenditures - The Department of Health expenditures may increase by an indeterminate, and potentially significant, amount to: 1) provide financial assistance or subsidies to offset training costs for physicians who complete the continuing medical education credits; 2) promote professional awareness of the continuing medical education programs concerning menopause and women’s health; 3) partner with medical schools, hospitals, and professional organizations to integrate menopause and women’s health education into their continuing medical education offerings; and 4) establish an advisory committee to monitor the effectiveness of, and participation in, the training programs.  The OLS notes the actual amount of State costs will depend to a great extent on the scope and amount of financial assistance or subsidies available to physicians who complete the continuing medical education credits.

      Moreover, the Department of Health costs will increase in order to partner with medical schools, hospitals, and professional organizations to integrate menopause and women’s health education into their continuing medical education courses.  The amount of these additional expenditures will depend upon the scale of the department’s work, particularly with medical schools and hospitals.  To the extent that the department can utilize existing relationships with medical schools, hospital systems, and medical professional associations to satisfy the requirements under the bill, State costs may be somewhat reduced.

      Department of Law and Public Safety Expenditures – The State Board of Medical Examiners, in the Division of Consumer Affairs, requires licensed physicians to complete continuing medical education credits.  This bill proposes that courses related to menopause and women’s health are required to be included in the approved list of courses, and physicians may use up to three credits toward their total required credits.  The State Board of Medical Examiners may incur modest expenditure increases from a one-time update of approving the continuing medical education to include courses related to menopause and women’s health, depending on the division’s resource allocation policies.

 

 

Sections:

Law and Public Safety Section & Human Services Section

Analysts:

Kristin Brunner Santos

Lead Fiscal Analyst

 

Anne H. Cappabianca

Senior Fiscal Analyst

Approved:

Thomas Koenig

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

 

 

This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

 

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).