This bill requires certified nurse midwives and physicians in New Jersey to provide pregnant patients with written, evidence-based information about all available birthing options during the initial prenatal visit and before labor begins. The information must cover hospital births, water births, C-sections (scheduled and emergency), associated health risks for mother and infant, effects of medications like epidurals and Pitocin, and insurance coverage options. It must be provided in English and at least seven common non-English languages spoken by patients with limited English proficiency, based on census data. The New Jersey Department of Health will develop this standardized information in consultation with medical professionals and ensure it is accessible in the patient's preferred language.
This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to establish regional hospital coalitions to coordinate emergency preparedness across the state. Each coalition - comprising hospitals and local health departments - must develop and annually update plans addressing response coordination, staffing, patient surge capacity, and service continuity during public emergencies. The DOH will review these plans, conduct annual system-wide preparedness surveys, and provide grants with technical assistance to hospitals identified as deficient in emergency readiness. The program directly affects all licensed hospitals and local health departments in New Jersey.
This bill requires all health insurance plans and Medicaid in New Jersey to cover medically necessary speech therapy for stuttering, including both habilitative (helping develop speech skills) and rehabilitative (helping regain lost skills) therapy. It applies to all health insurance policies sold in New Jersey, including individual, group, and hospital service contracts, and mandates coverage whether therapy is provided in-person or via telehealth. Insurers must cover these services at the same level as other medical treatments, without additional restrictions. The law directly affects residents with stuttering who rely on insurance for speech therapy, ensuring they receive consistent coverage for this specific treatment.
This bill requires physicians in New Jersey to complete one continuing medical education credit on communication and treatment for deaf or hard of hearing patients as part of their biennial license renewal. It also mandates that general hospital emergency departments develop specific training protocols for staff interacting with deaf or hard of hearing patients, in consultation with the Division of Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The Division will create a dedicated training unit to develop and administer these programs. The law affects licensed physicians, hospital emergency staff, and the patients they serve, with implementation beginning 90 days after enactment.
This bill requires New Jersey hospitals to install and operate electronic monitoring devices (like cameras or video phones) in a patient's room when requested by an incapacitated patient or their legal representative. It defines "incapacitated" as patients who are unconscious, immobile, or unable to verbally communicate. Hospitals must inform patients of this right during admission, cover all costs for the device, store recorded footage for 60 days after discharge, and obtain written consent from roommates before installation. Tampering with or destroying the device without consent is a criminal offense punishable by up to 5 years in prison.
This bill requires all New Jersey municipalities to provide basic life support (BLS) ambulance services as an essential service for their residents. Municipalities must arrange these services through one of four options: licensing private companies, contracting with public/private/nonprofit entities, entering mutual aid agreements with other towns, or partnering with hospitals. The bill also creates a state appropriation to reimburse municipalities for the costs of establishing these services. It defines BLS as pre-hospital care including CPR, wound care, and fracture stabilization, and amends prior laws to clarify hospital partnerships for these services.
This bill sets specific requirements for New Jersey hospitals that advertise level-one or level-two pediatric emergency departments (PEDs). Hospitals must maintain dedicated PED spaces with board-certified pediatric emergency physicians as directors, certified pediatric emergency nurses as managers, 24-hour staffing by qualified providers, and access to pediatric subspecialists (e.g., cardiology, neurology) within one hour. Level-one PEDs also require separate pediatric inpatient/intensive care units, while level-two PEDs may use transfer agreements with level-one facilities. The Department of Health must include hospital-specific PED performance data in its annual hospital report. The bill directly affects hospitals seeking to advertise PED services and aims to standardize pediatric emergency care quality.
This bill (S 3691) grants patients with developmental disabilities in New Jersey hospitals the right to have a designated caregiver - such as a family member, guardian, direct support professional (DSP), or other caregiver - accompany them throughout their entire hospital stay, except during active surgical procedures where safety concerns apply. It requires hospitals to provide patients or their legal representatives the opportunity to choose this caregiver at admission, document the choice in medical records, and ensure the designated person can remain with the patient. The law directly affects individuals with developmental disabilities receiving inpatient hospital care across New Jersey, ensuring their support network can be present during treatment. Key mechanisms include standardized definitions for terms like "developmental disability" and "DSP," mandatory hospital procedures for designation, and clear exceptions for surgical settings.
This bill requires New Jersey public and independent colleges and universities to maintain a supply of naloxone nasal spray (used to reverse opioid overdoses) in secure, accessible campus locations. Institutions must develop a policy allowing trained staff - including resident assistants, security officers, and campus medical professionals - to administer naloxone in emergencies, and mandate transportation to a hospital after use. The policy must be created with guidance from the state’s Higher Education Secretary and Human Services Commissioner, and all staff administering naloxone must complete required training. The bill directly affects campus communities, particularly students and staff who may witness or respond to opioid overdoses.
This bill requires New Jersey's public and independent colleges and universities to maintain a supply of opioid antidotes (like naloxone) in secure, accessible locations. Institutions must create a policy allowing licensed campus medical staff and trained employees to administer the antidote in good faith to anyone showing signs of an opioid overdose - including students, staff, or visitors - and mandate hospital transport after administration. The policy must include training on standardized protocols based on the state's Overdose Prevention Act. The bill also provides liability protection for good faith actions taken under these requirements.
