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Bill

S 4078

Creates "New Jersey Dialysis Patient Support Person Accommodation Act."

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by John Burzichelli and 1 co-sponsor

Allows a dialysis patient to designate a support person to accompany them during treatment, with facilities required to reasonably accommodate this presence.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 4078

Summary of Bill S 4078 (New Jersey, 2026 Session)

Title

Creates the New Jersey Dialysis Patient Support Person Accommodation Act.

Purpose and intent

The bill aims to ensure that individuals undergoing dialysis have access to a support person during dialysis-related treatment encounters. It seeks to formalize a patient-centered accommodation that allows a designated support person to be present, with the goal of improving patient comfort, decision-making support, and overall experience within dialysis care settings.

Key provisions and changes

  • Accommodation of a support person: The bill establishes that a dialysis patient may have a designated support person accompany them during dialysis treatment and related experiences within approved dialysis facilities.
  • Rights and scope of presence: The act would set parameters for the presence of the support person, including the activities they may undertake (e.g., emotional support, assistance with communication with healthcare providers) while ensuring patient privacy and safety.
  • Facility compliance requirements: Dialysis facilities would be obligated to recognize and reasonably accommodate the designated support person, subject to the facility’s standard policies and patient rights.
  • Coordination with clinical care: The provision is designed to complement clinical care without compromising infection control, safety protocols, or clinical workflow.
  • Non-discrimination and patient autonomy: The bill emphasizes respecting patient choice in selecting a support person and prohibits discrimination or adverse action against a patient for having a designated support person.

Who is affected

  • Patients receiving dialysis: Beneficiaries who would have the option to designate a support person to accompany them during treatment.
  • Dialysis facilities and staff: Hospitals, clinics, and dialysis centers that operate dialysis treatment services; staff would implement and adhere to the accommodation policies.
  • Support persons: Individuals chosen by patients to provide emotional, logistical, or communicative support during care sessions.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced: May 4, 2026
  • Referral: Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee
  • Status: Awaiting committee consideration and potential amendments; no enacted language available beyond the bill’s introduction and referral at this stage.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Patient experience: May improve patient comfort, reduce anxiety, and enhance communication between patients and healthcare teams.
  • Operational impact: Facilities may need to adjust intake processes, visiting policies, and patient agreements to accommodate a designated support person while maintaining safety and privacy standards.
  • Regulatory alignment: The bill would harmonize with patient rights and accommodations frameworks, requiring clear policies from facilities once enacted.
  • Equity and access: Impact could vary based on patients’ ability to designate a support person (e.g., caregiver availability, distance, scheduling).

If you’d like, I can compare S 4078 to existing New Jersey patient-rights statutes or provide a section-by-section hypothetical outline of how the final enacted language might look.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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