Governor Phil Murphy yesterday signed S703/A1079, requiring all health care professionals who provide perinatal treatment and care to pregnant persons at a hospital or birthing center undergo explicit and implicit bias training. The requirement of the explicit and implicit bias training will help to improve New Jersey’s high rates of Black maternal and infant mortality and the racial disparities that drive this crisis.
“The health of our Black mothers and babies is critical to the health of our state – period,” said Governor Murphy. “This value is reflected in my Fiscal Year 2021 budget through the full funding of explicit and implicit bias training for all staff at our labor and delivery hospitals and Federally Qualified Health Centers. I am grateful and proud that my colleagues in the Legislature share this value and I am committed to continuing our work to eliminate the racial disparities that fuel the Black maternal and infant and mortality crisis in New Jersey.”
The bill was sponsored by Senators Ruiz and Cunningham and Assemblywomen Speight, Pintor Marin, and Reynolds-Jackson.
“At University Hospital, we take pride in our approach to equity in maternal and child health care. In fact, we have already instituted the Implicit Association Test to assess the implicit biases that every clinician can carry unwittingly, and we’re doing something about it by supporting our workforce with a health equity task force, said Shereef Elnahal, President and CEO of University Hospital. “We applaud the fact that the Murphy Administration is recognizing that Black and Brown mothers and babies deserve access to quality care without the racial disparities that, unfortunately, continue to exist in our state.”
“It is unacceptable that New Jersey has the fourth highest maternal mortality rate in the country, with Black women being nearly four times more likely than white women to lose their life during or after childbirth,” said Senator Ruiz. “By unpacking the implicit biases healthcare workers may hold, we can begin to improve outcomes across racial demographics and provide more equitable care to our mothers around the state. While the signing of this legislation is a significant step in the right direction, it is crucial we continue to do everything we can to ensure all of our residents are receiving the highest quality of care.”
“For the past three years, Nurture NJ has been laser focused on transforming a system that has historically failed Black women and babies,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “The Nurture NJ Maternal and Infant Health Statewide Strategic Plan is our blueprint to address the core factor at the heart of our Black maternal and infant health crisis — implicit bias and systemic racism. This is a massive undertaking that requires collaboration across all levels of government and industries, and I am grateful that the Governor and Legislature recognize the kind of systemic change needed to ensure a healthy start for every New Jersey mother and baby.”
