Requires hospitals to inquire whether patients have substance use disorder and establish protocols for providing or referring to treatment.

This bill requires all New Jersey general acute care hospitals to ask patients aged 18 or older during treatment whether they have a substance use disorder or are in recovery. Hospitals must create public-facing protocols within 180 days to provide treatment or referrals for these patients. The law applies directly to hospitals and affects patients receiving care in those facilities. Key provisions include mandatory screening during healthcare services and making protocol details available to the public upon request. The bill does not create new treatment programs but establishes a standardized process for hospitals to address substance use disorders.