ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 948

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 9, 2026

      The Assembly Health Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 948.

      This bill requires the Commissioner of Health to conduct a survey and analysis of antenatal and prenatal care clinics in order to evaluate the effectiveness of maternity, antenatal, and prenatal care services Statewide.  The survey will include data collected from all antenatal and prenatal care clinics in the State, including those clinics that have closed or substantially ceased operation of any of their beds, facilities, or services within the two years prior to the bill’s effective date.  The bill defines "antenatal and prenatal care clinic" as an inpatient or ambulatory health care facility licensed by the Department of Health that provides maternity, antenatal, and prenatal care services.

      The purpose of the survey is to: inform policy on the certificate of need requirements, provided by P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.), concerning the closure or discontinuance of all, or a component of, antenatal and prenatal care clinics’ services; assess the availability of antenatal and prenatal care clinics and their ability to provide maternity, antenatal, and prenatal care services; identify facilities where low and moderate income pregnant women receive maternity, antenatal, and prenatal care services; and collect cultural, demographic, and socioeconomic background data about the pregnant women served by antenatal and prenatal care clinics.

      The collected survey data will be analyzed to: identify local and Statewide trends and developments in the provision of maternity, antenatal, and prenatal care services and disparities in the care received by pregnant women based on economic factors and the accessibility of antenatal and prenatal care clinics; and develop programs, resources, and strategies to improve access to, and the quality of, maternity, antenatal, and prenatal care services Statewide.

     Survey data will be made available through the Department of Health’s website, and the commissioner is to submit a report to the Legislature concerning the survey results and any recommendations for legislation or other action.  The bill specifies that published and reported data are not to include any personal identifying information or confidential patient information.  The bill authorizes the commissioner to contract with a third party entity to administer the survey, review survey data, and produce the required report.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2026-2027 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.