Bill > S3434

Introduced Session

This bill requires the Commissioner of Health to conduct a survey and analysis of prenatal care clinics for the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of maternity and prenatal care services throughout the State. The survey would include data collected from all prenatal care clinics in the State, including prenatal care clinics that have closed or substantially ceased operation of any of its beds, facilities, or services, within a two-year period prior to the effective date of the bill. As used in the bill, "prenatal care clinic" means an inpatient or ambulatory health care facility licensed by the Department of Health that provides maternity and prenatal care services. The purpose of the survey would be to: inform policy on the certificate of need requirements as provided by P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.) concerning the closure or discontinuance of all, or a component of, a prenatal care clinic's services; assess the availability of prenatal care clinics and their ability to provide maternity and prenatal care services; identify where low and moderate income pregnant women receive maternity and prenatal care services; and collect cultural, demographic, and socioeconomic background data about the pregnant women served by prenatal care clinics. The collected survey data would be analyzed to: identify local and Statewide trends and developments in the provision of maternity and prenatal care services and disparities in the care received by pregnant women based on economic factors and the accessibility of prenatal care clinics; and develop programs, resources, and strategies to improve access to, and the quality of, maternity and prenatal care services throughout the State. Survey data would be made available through the Department of Health's website, and the commissioner would submit a report to the Legislature concerning the results of the survey and any recommendations for legislation or other action. The bill specifies that published and reported data would not 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.

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Joe Cryan (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee (on 02/07/2019)