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Bill > S4940
NJ S4940
NJ S4940Requires hospitals to maintain minimum services when relocating from underserved community.
summary
Introduced
12/04/2025
12/04/2025
In Committee
12/04/2025
12/04/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026
01/12/2026
Introduced Session
2024-2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill requires that a general acute care hospital licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.), for which the Department of Health (the department) has approved a certificate of need application to relocate from its location in an underserved community, is required to maintain at its original location the minimum professional departments, inpatient beds, services, facilities, and functions that a hospital licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.) is required to provide pursuant to N.J.A.C.8:33-3.1. The bill further provides that the departments, inpatient beds, services, facilities and functions to be maintained at the hospital's original location in an underserved community will be provided under the same license as the relocated hospital. The provisions of the bill will take effect immediately, and will apply retroactively to any hospital relocations, approved by the department in the 12 months prior to the effective date, that also meet the bill's requirements.
AI Summary
This bill requires hospitals relocating from an underserved community to maintain their existing professional departments, inpatient beds, services, facilities, and functions at their original location under the same hospital license. The bill specifically defines an "underserved community" as a municipality with over 30,000 residents in 2024 that meets specific medical underservice criteria, including being designated as a Medically Underserved Area or Population by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, having a Medical Underservice Score of 62.0 or less in 2025, and being identified as medically underserved by New Jersey's Commissioner of Health. The Commissioner of Health is required to adopt regulations to implement the act, and the bill will take effect immediately, applying retroactively to hospital relocations approved by the Department of Health in the previous 12 months that meet the bill's provisions. The intent appears to be protecting healthcare access in communities that are already medically vulnerable by ensuring that relocated hospitals maintain a minimum level of medical services in their original location.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee (on 12/04/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/S4940 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/S5000/4940_I1.HTM |
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