Requires DOH to establish levels of maternity care at maternity care facilities.

This bill (S 701) requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to create a statewide classification system for maternity care facilities, including hospitals and birthing centers. The system establishes five levels of care based on patient risk: basic care (Level I) for low-risk pregnancies at birthing centers, and progressively higher levels (II-IV) for increasingly complex medical needs, including critical conditions for mothers and newborns. Facilities must meet specific standards for staffing, equipment, and transfer protocols with other facilities to ensure appropriate care. The bill directly affects all maternity care facilities in New Jersey and aims to reduce adverse outcomes and health inequities by standardizing care pathways. The DOH will use data from the Maternal Data Center to evaluate the system's effectiveness.