This bill mandates that general acute care hospitals in New Jersey inquire about substance use disorders for patients aged 18 and older when providing health care services. Specifically, hospitals are required to establish facility-wide or unit-specific protocols within 180 days of the bill's enactment to ensure that patients who disclose a substance use disorder or recovery status receive appropriate treatment or referrals. These protocols must be made available to the public upon request.

Additionally, the bill empowers the Commissioner of Health to adopt necessary rules and regulations to implement its provisions, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act. The act is set to take effect on the first day of the fourth month following its enactment, although the Commissioner may take anticipatory actions to facilitate its implementation.