Bill
Bill > S299
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill establishes the Blue Band Program in the Office Maternal and Child Health in the Department of Health to reduce preventable pregnancy-related complications associated with preeclampsia by clearly alerting health care providers to an individual's risk to related health complications that can lead to maternal death, and to reduce the maternal mortality and morbidity rates in the State. The Office of Maternal and Child Health is to (1) implement requirements for, and provide information to hospitals and federally qualified health centers, on participating in the Blue Band program established pursuant to this bill; (2) establish a procedure by which a hospital and federally qualified health center may voluntarily opt in to the program; and (3) develop guidelines for the distribution of blue wristbands by participating hospitals and federally qualified health centers to pregnant and postpartum individuals at risk of preeclampsia or diagnosed with preeclampsia, in order to clearly alert health care providers to the individual's risk to related health complications that can lead to maternal death. The Office of Maternal and Child Health shall develop educational resources to support participating hospitals and federally qualified health centers in implementing the Blue Band program, and make such resources available, in print and in an easily printable format, on the Office's Internet website. The Office of Maternal and Child Health is to submit an annual report to the Governor and Legislature on the implementation of this program. The report shall include data on the number of hospitals and federally qualified health centers in the State that are actively participating in the program, the counties in which the participating hospitals and federally qualified health centers are located, and the impact of the Blue Band program on maternal mortality in the counties where the participating hospitals and federally qualified health centers are located.
AI Summary
This bill establishes the "Blue Band Program" within the Office of Maternal and Child Health in New Jersey's Department of Health to combat preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and organ damage, which is a leading cause of preventable maternal deaths. The program aims to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity by providing blue wristbands to pregnant and postpartum individuals identified as at risk for or diagnosed with preeclampsia, serving as a clear alert to healthcare providers about their condition and potential complications. The Office of Maternal and Child Health will oversee the program's implementation, including setting requirements for hospitals and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) – which are community-based health centers that provide care to underserved populations – to voluntarily opt into the program, developing guidelines for distributing the wristbands, and creating educational resources for both patients and healthcare professionals. The Office will also submit an annual report to the Governor and Legislature detailing the program's participation rates, geographic reach, and impact on maternal mortality.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/S299 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/S0500/299_I1.HTM |
Loading...