LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

[Second Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 5309

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: JULY 3, 2025

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Permits up to three credits of continuing medical education on menopause to be used by advanced practice nurses and 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 develop training modules as specified in the bill and 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 and the Board of Nursing in the Department of Law and Public Safety’s Division of Consumer Affairs may incur expenditure increases from updating 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 advanced practice nurses and 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. 

      The New Jersey Board of Nursing in the Division of Consumer Affairs is to require that the number of credits of continuing education required for advanced practice nurses, as a condition of license renewal, include up to three optional credits of educational programs or topics concerning menopause.

      Under the bill, physicians and advanced practice nurses who choose to complete the menopause and women’s health education modules are to receive credits toward their required continuing education credits for license renewal.  These credits are to count toward the total continuing education hours required, which includes a focus on patient safety, medical ethics, and other essential medical topics.  In addition to receiving continuing medical or nursing education credits, physicians and advanced practice nurses who complete these modules are to be eligible to receive from the Department of Health if there are available funds: financial assistance or subsidies to offset the cost of the training programs; public recognition or certification for completing menopause and women’s health education modules; and specialized continuing medical education tracks that include menopause and women’s health education for physicians or advanced practice nurses practicing in relevant specialties, as determined by the Department of Health.

      The Department of Health is required to develop the training modules and actively promote awareness of 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, nursing 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, assess participation, and make recommendations for public health measures and areas of further research concerning menopause.

 

 

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 the 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 and advanced practice nurses who complete the continuing medical education credits; 2) develop training modules on menopause education; 3) promote professional awareness of the continuing education programs concerning menopause and women’s health; 4) partner with medical schools, nursing schools, hospitals, and professional organizations to integrate menopause and women’s health education into their continuing medical education offerings; and 5) establish an advisory committee to monitor the effectiveness of, and participation in, the training programs and make recommendations for public health measures and areas of further research concerning menopause.  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, nursing 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, nursing schools, and hospitals.  To the extent that the department can utilize existing relationships with medical schools, nursing schools, hospital systems, and medical professional associations to satisfy the requirements under the bill, State costs may be reduced.

      Department of Law and Public Safety Expenditures – The State Board of Medical Examiners and the Board of Nursing in the Division of Consumer Affairs require licensed physicians and advanced practice nurses, respectively, to complete continuing education credits.  This bill proposes that courses related to menopause and women’s health be included in the approved list of courses that physicians and advanced practice nurses may take for up to three credits toward their total required credits.  The State Board of Medical Examiners and the Board of Nursing may incur modest expenditure increases from updates to approve the continuing 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.).