Permits flexible use of licensed hospital bed capacity for pediatric and adult patient care under certain circumstances.

S4199

SENATE, No. 4199

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MAY 11, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� NICHOLAS P. SCUTARI

District 22 (Somerset and Union)

SYNOPSIS

���� Permits flexible use of licensed hospital bed
capacity for pediatric and adult patient care under certain circumstances.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning pediatric and adult patient care in
hospitals and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.� a.� As used in this act:

���� "Hospital" means an
acute care general hospital licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et
seq.), which contains a pediatric care unit.

���� "Pediatric care
unit" means a unit located within a hospital which utilizes licensed beds
to provide pediatric care for patients, including a pediatric intensive or
critical care unit and pediatric psychiatric unit.

���� b.� Notwithstanding the
provisions of any other State law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a
hospital may temporarily admit a patient under 18 years of age into an
appropriate adult patient care unit, provided that:

���� (1)� the hospital's pediatric
care unit has no more available licensed beds for the pediatric patient;

���� (2)� no adult patients are
admitted to the adult patient care unit while the pediatric patient is admitted
to the unit;

���� (3)� the hospital staffs the
adult patient care unit with adequate and appropriate pediatric care staff to
treat the pediatric patient;

���� (4)� the pediatric patient is
transferred to the appropriate pediatric care unit when a licensed bed is
available and when clinically appropriate; and

���� (5) following the discharge of
the pediatric patient, the adult patient care unit can resume the admission of
adult patients into the unit.�

���� c.� Notwithstanding the
provisions of any other State law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a
hospital may temporarily admit an adult patient into an appropriate pediatric�
care unit, provided that:

���� (1)� the hospital's adult
patient care unit has no more available licensed beds for the adult patient;

���� (2)� no pediatric patients are
admitted to the pediatric care unit while the adult patient is admitted to the
unit;

���� (3)� the hospital staffs the
pediatric care unit with adequate and appropriate adult patient care staff to
treat the adult patient;

���� (4)� the adult patient is
transferred to the appropriate adult patient care unit when a licensed bed is
available and when clinically appropriate; and

���� (5) following the discharge of
the adult patient from the pediatric care unit, the pediatric care unit can
resume the admission of pediatric patients into the unit.�

���� 2.� The Commissioner of Health
shall, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act,"
P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt rules and regulations as necessary
to implement this act.

���� 3.� This act shall take effect
on the first day of the sixth month next following enactment, except that the
Commissioner of Health may take any anticipatory administrative action in
advance as may be necessary for the implementation of this act.

STATEMENT

���� This bill permits licensed
hospitals with pediatric care units to temporarily admit patients under 18
years of age into an appropriate adult patient care unit or adult patients into
an appropriate pediatric care unit under certain circumstances.

���� Under the bill, a hospital may
temporarily admit a patient under 18 years of age into an appropriate adult
patient care unit, provided that:� the hospital's pediatric care unit has no
more available licensed beds for the pediatric patient; no adult patients are
admitted to the adult patient care unit while the pediatric patient is admitted
to the unit; the hospital staffs the adult patient care unit with adequate and
appropriate pediatric care staff to treat the pediatric patient; the pediatric
patient is transferred to the appropriate pediatric care unit when a licensed
bed is available and when clinically appropriate; and following the discharge
of the pediatric patient, the adult patient care unit can resume the admission
of adult patients into the unit.�

���� Under the bill, a hospital may
temporarily admit an adult patient into an appropriate pediatric� care unit,
provided that:� the hospital's adult patient care unit has no more available
licensed beds for the adult patient; no pediatric patients are admitted to the
pediatric care unit while the adult patient is admitted to the unit; the
hospital staffs the pediatric care unit with adequate and appropriate adult
patient care staff to treat the adult patient; the adult patient is transferred
to the appropriate adult patient care unit when a licensed bed is available and
when clinically appropriate; and following the discharge of the adult patient
from the pediatric care unit, the pediatric care unit can resume the admission
of pediatric patients into the unit.�

���� The bill defines "hospital"
to mean an acute care general hospital licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136
(C.26:2H-1 et seq.) and which contains a pediatric care unit.� The bill defines
"pediatric care unit" to mean a unit located within a hospital which
utilizes licensed beds to provide pediatric care for patients, including a pediatric
intensive or critical care unit and pediatric psychiatric unit.