New Jersey

Murphy Signs Bills Aimed at Improving Maternity Care in New Jersey

What to Know

  • NJ Gov. Phil Murphy has signed four bills into law aimed at improving maternal health care, particularly for residents using Medicaid
  • The Democrat signed the measures Wednesday at University Hospital in Newark
  • The new laws were enacted just a day after the CDC released a study showing pregnancy-related deaths are rising

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has signed four bills into law aimed at improving maternal health care, particularly for residents using Medicaid.

The Democrat signed the measures Wednesday at University Hospital in Newark.

"New Jersey is making a strong statement that every mother, every birth, and every child matters," Murphy said. 

The new laws were enacted just a day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a study showing pregnancy-related deaths are rising and that being black is a main risk factor.

"The need for action could not be clearer," Murphy said, adding: "In New Jersey we already have the statistics. The racial gaps are extraordinary and unacceptable both for moms and for babies. In a state that is renowned for its leadership in healthcare and a state that is among the wealthiest in our nation, these disparities stand in stark contrast to our core values."

One measure provides for Medicaid to cover doulas. Another sets up a pilot program for perinatal care for those on Medicaid.

The third bill bars early, elective deliveries that are not medically necessary for those on Medicaid and on the state's health benefits plans.

The final measure codifies a current practice by requiring perinatal risk assessment forms be filled out by Medicaid providers.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us