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S 4445

Enacts the "Jamie Rose care provider act"

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Dan Stec

New Jersey S 4445 requires prenatal and postnatal screening for perinatal anxiety (PASS or approved tool), plus family education and a public-awareness campaign to standardize care

REFERRED TO HEALTH
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Bill Summary · S 4445

NJ S 4445 — Jamie Rose Care Provider Act (Introduced May 19, 2025)

Overview

S 4445 would enact the “Jamie Rose care provider act” to address perinatal anxiety in New Jersey. The bill, introduced in the Senate and referred to the Health Committee, aims to raise awareness, standardize screening, and improve information and treatment options for expecting and new mothers, as well as their families. Primary sponsor: Dan Stec. A companion bill exists as A 1700.

Purpose and Context

  • Perinatal anxiety is defined as unhealthy distress experienced during pregnancy or within the first year after childbirth. The bill cites NJ Department of Health estimates: about 6% of pregnant women and 10% of postpartum women experience perinatal anxiety.
  • The finding emphasizes that untreated perinatal anxiety can lead to longer-term mental health issues and may affect pregnancy outcomes. The bill describes a broad symptom set and notes the disorder is often under-recognized or dismissed as ordinary maternal worry.

Key Provisions

Section 2 — Screening, Education, and Family Involvement

  • The Commissioner of Health, with the State Board of Medical Examiners and the Board of Nursing, must collaborate with health care facilities and professionals to implement policies.
  • Prenatal care providers (physicians, nurse midwives, and other licensed professionals) must:
    • Inform patients and families about perinatal anxiety (symptoms, coping strategies, and treatment resources).
    • Screen prenatal patients for perinatal anxiety at least once in each trimester.
  • Birthing facilities must:
    • Provide departing new mothers and fathers (and appropriate family members) with information about perinatal anxiety and available resources.
  • Postnatal care requirements:
    • Providers must screen new mothers for perinatal anxiety before discharge from the birthing facility and at the first few postnatal checkups.
  • Family inclusion:
    • Prenatal and postnatal care should involve fathers and other family members to improve understanding and support.

Screening Tools

  • Screening should use the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS) or another approved scale/test.

Definitions

  • “Birthing facility” = any licensed inpatient or ambulatory facility offering birthing and newborn care.

Section 3 — Public Awareness Campaign

  • If funding is available (within the Department of Health or via legislative appropriation), the Commissioner must establish a public awareness campaign about perinatal anxiety, including causes, symptoms, coping strategies, and treatment options.

Section 4 — Rulemaking

  • The Commissioner must adopt rules and regulations to implement the act (text indicates this section but is truncated in the provided material; intent is to establish regulatory details).

Who Is Affected

  • Pregnant individuals and new mothers in New Jersey, and their families.
  • Licensed health care professionals (physicians, nurse midwives, etc.) and birthing facilities.
  • State agencies: Department of Health, Board of Medical Examiners, and Board of Nursing.

Timeline and Implementation

  • The bill sets forth immediate duties for health professionals upon enactment (screening and information provision) and contemplates regulatory rules to be adopted by the Commissioner.
  • Funding for a public awareness campaign is contingent on availability of funds.

Legislative History

  • Introduced: May 19, 2025; Senate referred to Health.
  • Prior action includes an earlier referral on February 5, 2025.
  • Related/companion: A 1700; prior-session S 5912.

Potential Impacts

  • Standardized identification and treatment pathways for perinatal anxiety.
  • Greater involvement of families in education and support.
  • Increased informational resources for patients and providers; potential costs for facilities and training, balanced by targeted funding for awareness.
  • Enhanced regulatory framework for implementing perinatal anxiety screening and education.

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

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