Title 26, Title 26: HEALTH AND VITAL STATISTICS

26:2H-12.6 Care of newborn children. 1. The governing body of a health care facility licensed in this State pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.) which provides health care services to newborn children shall adopt policies and procedures which ensure that newborn childr…

26:2H-12.60 Submission of bill to Medicare beneficiary by health care facility; reporting of nonpayment. 1. a. A health care facility licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.), which provides a health care service to a Medicare beneficiary, shall bill the beneficia…

26:2H-12.61 Discharge of patients from certain residences; provision for care in alternate facility. 1. a. If a facility licensed to operate as an assisted living residence or comprehensive personal care home pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.) opts to surrender its l…

26:2H-12.62 Definitions relative to qualifications for employment as surgical technologist. 1. For purposes of this act: "Health care facility" means a hospital or other health care facility licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.). "Surgical technologist" means a…

26:2H-12.63 Requirements for practicing surgical technology. 2. No person shall practice surgical technology in a health care facility unless that person: a. has successfully completed a nationally or regionally accredited educational program for surgical technologists; or b. hol…

26:2H-12.64 Requirements for employment. 3. A health care facility shall not employ or otherwise contract for the services of a surgical technologist unless the person employed or contracted meets the requirements of section 2 of this act. L.2011, c.148, s.3.

26:2H-12.65 Continuing education requirement. 4. A person who qualifies to practice surgical technology in a health care facility under section 2 of this act shall annually complete 15 hours of continuing education to remain qualified to practice as a surgical technologist in thi…

26:2H-12.66 Verification of eligibility to practice. 5. A health care facility that employs or contracts with a person to practice surgical technology shall verify that the person meets: a. the continuing education requirements of section 4 of this act; and b. the requirements of…

26:2H-12.67 Person permitted to act within scope of practice of license. 6. Nothing in this act shall prohibit any person licensed under any other law from practicing surgical technology if the person is acting within the scope of practice of his license. L.2011, c.148, s.6.

26:2H-12.68 Definitions relative to disposal of prescription medications by health care facilities. 1. As used in this act: "Public wastewater collection system" means any collection system regulated by the Department of Environmental Protection pursuant to the "Water Pollution C…

26:2H-12.69 Health care facilities prohibited from discharging prescription medication into public wastewater collection or septic system; exceptions. 2. a. Except as otherwise provided by subsections b. and c. of this section, every health care facility shall establish and imple…

26:2H-12.6a Preparation, distribution of resource guide providing information on child abuse, neglect. 1. a. The Department of Children and Families, in consultation with the Department of Health, shall prepare a resource guide in both English and Spanish which provides informati…

26:2H-12.6b Definitions relative to emergency contraception for sexual assault victims. 1. As used in P.L.2005, c.50 (C.26:2H-12.6b et seq.): "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Health. "Division on Women" means the Division on Women in the Department of Children and Familie…

26:2H-12.6c Provision of emergency care to sexual assault victim. 2. An emergency health care facility shall provide emergency care to a sexual assault victim. It shall be the standard of care for an emergency health care facility to: a. provide each sexual assault victim with me…

26:2H-12.6d Policies, procedures concerning personnel training. 3. An emergency health care facility shall have written policies and procedures to ensure that all personnel who provide care or information to a sexual assault victim: a. are trained to provide medically and factual…

26:2H-12.6e Written information relative to emergency contraception for sexual assault victims. 4. a. The commissioner, in collaboration with the Director of the Division on Women, the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault, and the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program, sha…

26:2H-12.6f Responsibilities of commissioner concerning compliance. 5. a. The commissioner shall: (1) investigate every complaint of noncompliance with the provisions of P.L.2005, c.50 (C.26:2H-12.6b et seq.) by an emergency health care facility, including the failure of a facili…

26:2H-12.6g Rules, regulations. 7. Pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), the commissioner, in consultation with the Director of the Division on Women and the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program, shall adopt rules and regulations t…

26:2H-12.6h Pregnant woman permitted to be accompanied in hospital room during period of labor and delivery. 1. An acute care general hospital licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.) shall permit a pregnant woman to have at least one individual to accompany the w…

26:2H-12.6i Hospital, birthing center, policies, procedures, patient choice, doula; definitions. 1. a. As used in this section: "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Health. "Birthing center" means a birthing center licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.). "Do…

26:2H-12.7. Legislative findings and declarations The Legislature finds and declares that a person admitted to a general hospital often feels overwhelmed and uncertain as to his condition and course of treatment, and that the declaration of a bill of rights for hospital patients …

26:2H-12.70 Department to ensure compliance. 3. The Department of Health and Senior Services shall, in conjunction with its periodic inspection of a health care facility, ensure that the health care facility has established and is implementing a policy, procedure, plan, or practi…

26:2H-12.71 Violations, penalties. 4. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law or rule or regulation to the contrary, only the penalties set forth in this section shall be imposed for any violation of this act. b. Any health care facility that fails to establish and imp…

26:2H-12.72 Rules, regulations. 5. The Department of Health and Senior Services, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection, may adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations as are necessar…

26:2H-12.73 Protocols established by general hospitals relative to SCTUs. 1. a. A general hospital licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.) shall establish protocols to request immediate dispatch, timely patient pick-up from the sending hospital, and transport to …

26:2H-12.74 Rules, regulations. 2. The Commissioner of Health shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), such rules and regulations as are necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act. L.2013, c.67, s.2.

26:2H-12.75 Findings, declarations relative to pediatric respite care facilities. 1. The Legislature finds and declares that: a. Many children in the State with limited life expectancies or complex, life-limiting illnesses receive care at pediatric medical day care facilities, bu…

26:2H-12.76 "Pediatric respite care facility" defined. 2. For purposes of this act, "pediatric respite care facility" means a facility licensed by the Department of Health that provides home-like care in a facility for two weeks or less of respite care, or as necessary for end-of…

26:2H-12.77 Application for licensure. 3. An entity may apply to the Commissioner of Health for a license to establish a pediatric respite care facility in the State. In addition to any other requirements set forth by the Commissioner of Health, an applicant shall be required to …

26:2H-12.78 Rules, regulations. 4. The Commissioner of Health, in consultation with the Commissioners of Human Services and Children and Families, shall adopt such rules and regulations, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), …

26:2H-12.79 Definitions relative to certain health care facilities required to be equipped with generators. 1. a. As used in this section: "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Community Affairs; "Department" means the Department of Community Affairs; "Distributed Energy Resou…

26:2H-12.8 Rights of persons admitted to a general hospital. 2. Every person admitted to a general hospital as licensed by the Department of Health pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et al.) shall have the right: a. To considerate and respectful care consistent with sound nur…

26:2H-12.80 Hospital and physician incentive plan. 2. a. A hospital may establish a hospital and physician incentive plan, which shall meet the requirements set forth in sections 2, 3, and 4 of this act. b. A hospital that establishes a hospital and physician incentive plan shall…

26:2H-12.81 Applicability of plan. 3. a. Except for plans limited to specific clinical specialties or diagnosis related groups, a hospital and physician incentive plan shall apply to all admissions and all inpatient costs related to those admissions in a given program. Plans shal…

26:2H-12.82 Institutional and specialty specific goals. 4. a. A hospital steering committee shall establish institutional and specialty-specific goals related to patient safety, quality of care, and operational performance, which may incorporate specific patient management tasks,…

26:2H-12.83 Review of plans, authority of department. 5. a. The Department of Health shall review each hospital and physician incentive plan filed with the department at least once every six years to determine whether the plan is operated in compliance with this act and other rel…

26:2H-12.84 Shared clinical space for primary health care and behavioral health care services. 1. a. In order to promote the integrated provision of primary health care services and behavioral health care services by health care facilities in the State, and in order to reduce any…

26:2H-12.85 Rules, regulations. 2. Within 180 days after the effective date of this act, the Commissioners of Health and Human Services, in consultation with each other, shall adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1…

26:2H-12.86 Facility offering behavioral health care services, policy for use of medical cannabis by qualifying patient. 43. a. The chief administrator of a facility that offers behavioral health care services shall develop a policy authorizing a parent, guardian, or designated c…

26:2H-12.87 Definitions, requirements for certain facilities relative to outbreak response plans. 1. a. As used in this section: "Cohorting" means the practice of grouping patients who are or are not colonized or infected with the same organism to confine their care to one area a…

26:2H-12.87a Statewide nursing home infection control, prevention infrastructure assessment. 1. a. The Department of Health shall conduct a Statewide nursing home infection control and prevention infrastructure assessment, which assessment shall include, at a minimum: (1) a count…

26:2H-12.87b Definitions; conditions for licensure. 2. a. As used in this section: "Assisted living facility" means an assisted living residence licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.). "Cohorting" means the practice of grouping patients who are or are not coloni…

26:2H-12.88 Hospital emergency department to inquire about pregnancy history of certain patients. 1. Each hospital licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.) that has an emergency department shall establish standards and protocols to ensure that each person of child…

26:2H-12.89 Rules, regulations. 2. The Commissioner of Health shall, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt rules and regulations as shall be necessary to implement the provisions of this act. L.2019, c.498, s.2.

26:2H-12.8a. Identification of staff member to patient 3. A general hospital, licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et al.), shall require a student nurse or facility staff member to wear an identifying badge that includes the person's name and licensure status, and, if…

26:2H-12.9. Summary of rights given to all patients, posted in general hospital rooms The administrator of a general hospital shall insure that a written summary of the rights set forth in this act be given to the patient or his guardian upon admittance to the hospital and to eac…