Bill Text: NJ S3117 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Requires emergency departments to take certain measures concerning palliative care for patients.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-1)
Status: (Passed) 2020-01-21 - Approved P.L.2019, c.421. [S3117 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-S3117-Amended.html
Sponsored by:
Senator M. TERESA RUIZ
District 29 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Requires emergency departments to take certain measures concerning palliative care for patients.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on February 7, 2019, with amendments.
An Act concerning emergency departments and palliative care and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The emergency department of a general hospital licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.) shall develop and implement a plan to integrate the provision of palliative care services for patients treated in the emergency department for whom palliative care is appropriate. The plan shall include1:
a.1 the adoption of a standardized screening tool for use by health care professionals in the emergency department to facilitate the identification of patients who present to the emergency department for acute symptom management, pain relief, or otherwise, who would benefit from palliative care services1[. The plan shall also include];
b.1 the provision of patient-centered information concerning the benefits of palliative care, the conditions, diagnoses, and disease stage for which palliative care is generally appropriate, and referrals to providers of outpatient palliative care services, when appropriate1[.The plan shall include]; and
c.1 consideration of the unique needs of patients with intellectual or developmental disabilities 1[,]1 or behavioral health issues who present to the emergency department and for whom palliative care may be indicated.
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following enactment.
