Bill > S1911

Introduced Session

This bill requires the Commissioner of Health, in consultation with the Commissioner of Human Services and the Commissioner of Children and Families, to establish a maternity care public awareness campaign to improve overall maternal and child health while ensuring equitable care among women and children of all races and ethnicities. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Health is to coordinate with any other entity that is engaged in a related maternity care public awareness campaign in order to not duplicate any efforts made in implementing the provisions of this bill. The campaign is to disseminate information about maternal health and encourage the public to access a user-friendly website, which is to be developed and maintained by the Department of Health. The campaign is to, at a minimum: 1) disseminate aggregated data to the public in an easily-understood language and format regarding hospital rates of cesarean births, exclusive breastfeeding at discharge, and vaginal birth after cesarean delivery, among other information, to assist women in the selection of maternity care providers and birthing locations; 2) promote active engagement in maternity care, patient rights, making informed choices, and the use of shared decision-making models and decision-making aids; 3) disseminate information to healthcare professionals regarding how to document the patient's preferences regarding the care provided during labor and delivery, also known as the patient's birth plan, in the patient's health records; 4) disseminate information to the public on: avoiding interventions that may be unneeded or that may increase pregnancy-related risks, such as primary cesarean sections and non-medically indicated early inductions; the advantages of physiologic labor and the activities and practices that will facilitate a physiologic labor process; and the benefits of using high-value forms of care such as midwives, birthing centers, doulas, and lactation support; 5) promote the maternal and child health programs and services that are available in the State, and encourage members of the public to contact their county central intake agency to obtain information concerning, and referrals to, appropriate programs and services; 6) provide information on the department's Internet website regarding parents' rights to family leave pursuant to P.L.2008, c.17 (C.43:21-39 et al.), the "Family Leave Act," P.L.1989, c.261 (C.34:11B-1 et seq.), and the federal "Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993," Pub.L. 103-3 (29 U.S.C. s.2601 et seq.); 7) provide the public with information about breastfeeding and pregnancy discrimination rights pursuant to P.L.2013, c.220 (C.10:5-3.1 et al.); and 8) provide the public with information about the eligibility requirements and the application process to enroll in coverage for pregnant women under the State Medicaid program.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee (on 02/24/2020)

Official Document