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A 4222

Relates to including used vehicles in the drive clean rebate program

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Brian Cunningham

Requires NJ to launch a state public awareness campaign highlighting doula and midwife benefits, culturally competent care, and NJ Family Care coverage for these services.

REFERRED TO ENERGY
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Bill Summary · A 4222

Summary — A4222 (Assembly Committee Substitute AAP/ACS A4944)

Title: Requires a public awareness campaign on the benefits of doula and midwife services
Introduced: May 2, 2024 — Latest committee substitute reported March 20, 2025
Status (most recent actions): Reported from Assembly Committee as a Substitute (3/20/25); referred repeatedly through Assembly committees. Current official status listed: REFERRED TO ENERGY.
Primary sponsor: Brian Cunningham
Related: S-3091 (companion); A-5257 (prior session)

Purpose and intent

The bill directs a state authority to establish a public awareness campaign to inform the general public about the person-centered, culturally competent, and evidence-based benefits of doula and midwife services for pregnant, birthing, and postpartum persons and infants. It also aims to increase awareness of free or low-cost resources and State coverage (including NJ Family Care) related to those services.

Key provisions

  • Authority responsible: The New Jersey Maternal Infant Health Innovation Authority (NJMIHIA) — in consultation with the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services — shall establish and run the campaign (committee substitute).
  • Campaign content: Must include, at minimum:
    • Descriptions of supportive services provided by doulas and midwives in prenatal, birthing, and postpartum periods;
    • The culturally competent nature of those services;
    • Health benefits and improved maternal/infant outcomes associated with doula and midwife care;
    • Information about free/low-cost resources and State coverage (e.g., NJ Family Care) for those services.
  • Materials, languages, and distribution:
    • NJMIHIA must develop printed and electronic educational materials in additional languages beyond the baseline required by P.L.2023, c.263.
    • Materials must be downloadable online and distributed through local health agencies and clinics, health care providers and facilities, reproductive health service providers (including Planned Parenthood clinics), WIC offices, county human services offices, pharmacies, and community-based organizations.
  • Definitions: The substitute defines “midwife” (certified midwife, certified professional midwife, certified nurse midwife) and adopts the statutory definition of “doula services” from P.L.2023, c.286.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: Pregnant, birthing, and postpartum persons and infants who may access doula and midwife services, especially populations served by public and community health programs.
  • Providers and intermediaries: NJMIHIA, Department of Health, Department of Human Services, doula and midwife practitioners, hospitals, clinics, WIC offices, reproductive health providers, pharmacies, community organizations.
  • Payers/coverage: The campaign will include information on NJ Family Care coverage for eligible enrollees.

Fiscal and timeline aspects

  • Estimated fiscal impact: Office of Legislative Services estimates an annual State cost of approximately $100,000 to develop and maintain the print and electronic campaign materials (comparable to prior State public health campaigns). Costs could vary upward depending on translation and publication needs.
  • Effective date (committee substitute): The act takes effect on the first day of the third month following enactment.

Procedural notes

  • The bill was amended in committee to move responsibility from the Commissioner of Human Services (initial introduced version) to the NJ Maternal Infant Health Innovation Authority and to explicitly include midwife services.
  • It has been reported by multiple Assembly committees and was reported as a committee substitute on March 20, 2025.

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

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