This bill mandates the Commissioner of Health in New Jersey to create comprehensive policies and procedures for hospitals and licensed birthing centers to follow regarding the collection and dissemination of maternity care data. It specifically requires the establishment of a maternity care evaluation protocol that these facilities must adhere to in order to gather relevant hospital discharge data. The data collected will include various de-identified metrics related to maternal health, such as maternal demographics, complications, delivery methods, and infant outcomes.

Additionally, the Department of Health is tasked with evaluating the collected data to identify potential improvements in maternity care services, generate quality metrics, and establish benchmarks for maternal health outcomes. The Commissioner is required to report annually to the Governor and the Legislature on the findings of this evaluation, including any recommendations for legislative action. The bill aims to enhance the quality of maternity care and improve health outcomes for mothers and infants in the state.