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 can utilize and evaluate the shared decision-making tool. The Commissioner will determine the participating facilities, ensuring representation from different regions of the state. These facilities will conduct a standardized evaluation to assess the tool's effectiveness in improving maternal care outcomes. Following the pilot program, participating hospitals and birthing centers are required to submit a report detailing the tool's effectiveness and recommendations for statewide implementation. The bill will take effect 360 days after enactment and will expire upon the completion of the required reports.