This bill mandates the Commissioner of Health to create a shared decision-making tool for maternity care hospitals and licensed birthing centers in New Jersey, aimed at enhancing patient knowledge and collaboration in maternity care decisions. The tool will be voluntary and will include various patient decision aids such as standardized questionnaires, educational fact sheets on maternity care topics, and multimedia resources to inform patients about critical maternal conditions and treatment options. The goal is to improve patient experiences, reduce adverse outcomes related to pregnancy, and encourage the creation of personalized birth plans.

Additionally, the bill establishes a three-year pilot program where selected hospitals and birthing centers will evaluate the effectiveness of the shared decision-making tool. The Commissioner will determine the participating facilities, ensuring representation from different regions of the state. These facilities will collect and analyze data on various maternal outcomes, including labor induction and delivery methods, to assess the tool's impact. A report on the tool's effectiveness and recommendations for statewide implementation will be submitted to the Commissioner, Governor, and Legislature after the pilot program concludes. The bill will take effect 360 days after enactment and will expire upon the final submission of the required reports.