Every parent of a newborn in New Jersey would be guaranteed a home visit from a nurse within two weeks of their child’s birth — at no expense — under a bill that cleared a legislative committee Tuesday.
Sponsors of the proposed legislation say it is aimed at protecting the health of mothers and infants.
“We’ve seen the information that’s been coming out the last several years ... what it can mean to have a visit to a home during that critical time frame,” said Sen. Teresa Ruiz, D-Essex, sponsor of the bill, S-690. “For first time mothers experiencing this, it doesn’t matter what you look like, what language you speak, what faith you adhere to, it is a challenging time frame.”
New Jersey currently has a home visitation program is income-based, but Ruiz said she wants to expand the benefit to every household welcoming a newborn.
Participation would be voluntary and available to parents of newborns, including adoptive parents and parents who have experienced a stillbirth, according to the bill. Nurses would evaluate the family’s physical, emotional and social well-being, as well as provide breastfeeding support. They could also link families with community resources or any necessary follow-up care.
While new moms typically visit their OBGYN six weeks after giving birth, the weeks leading up to that checkup are “devoid of formal or informal support,” the bill says. What’s more, four in 10 women do not attend a postpartum visit, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
“Many of the risk factors for post-delivery complications, such as hemorrhaging or a pulmonary embolism, may not be identifiable before a person who has given birth is discharged following the birth,” the bill said, adding it’s been proven that postpartum care can lower maternal death rates.
Sen. Richard Codey, D-Essex, a champion of postpartum depression screenings, suggested lawmakers add follow-up telemedicine appointments for six months, while other advocates recommended the proposal include all newborn caregivers.
The bill was approved Tuesday by the Senate’s Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens committee. It must be approved by the full Legislature and signed by the governor to take effect.
About 38 women die on average for every 100,000 births in New Jersey compared to about 21 deaths nationally, according to a 2019 report by the United Health Foundation. Black women are five times more likely to die during childbirth. They account for 47% of maternal deaths in the Garden State but represent only 13% of the state’s population.
In addition, a Black infant born in New Jersey is three times more likely to die before his or her first birthday than a white infant.
Gov. Phil Murphy and the state Legislature have taken steps combat these heartbreaking statistics, passing laws that prohibits New Jersey’s Medicaid program and government worker health plans from paying for non-essential, risky c-sections, and requiring Medicaid cover doulas before, during or after childbirth.
NJ Advance Media reporter Susan K. Livio contributed to this report.
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Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com.