Creates grant program in DOH to increase early detection of and intervention for uterine fibroids; appropriates $5 million.

S4253

SENATE, No. 4253

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MAY 14, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� BENJIE E. WIMBERLY

District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)

SYNOPSIS

���� Creates grant program in DOH to increase early
detection of and intervention for uterine fibroids; appropriates $5 million.�

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning uterine fibroids, supplementing Title 26 of
the Revised Statutes, and making an appropriation.

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

���� 1.��� The Commissioner of
Health, in consultation with the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, shall
evaluate and recommend policies to the Governor, and pursuant to section 2 of
P.L.1991, s.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the Legislature within one calendar year of the
date of enactment of this act which ensure coverage for uterine fibroid
screening and treatment under State-regulated health plans.

���� 2.��� a. The Commissioner of
Health shall establish a grant program to support research on increasing early
detection of, and intervention for, uterine fibroids, and based on the results
of such research and other relevant information, formulate evidence-based or
evidence-informed strategies to increase early detection of uterine fibroids in
health care settings.� The commissioner, within 90 days of the effective date
of this act, shall establish an application process for grants awarded pursuant
to subsections b. and d. of this section, including provisions for the
submission of a report one year following the disbursement of funds to the
grant recipient and which report shall include a summary on the use of grant
funds, tracking requirements pursuant to subsection e. of this section, and any
results or conclusions drawn from the use of the funds, for organizations to
apply for grant monies appropriated for the purposes of this act.

���� b.��� The commissioner shall
distribute grant money, subject to the availability of funds, for organizations
that:

���� (1)�� research early detection
of and intervention for uterine fibroids; and

���� (2)�� develop and implement
public awareness campaigns for the early detection of and intervention for
uterine fibroids.

���� c.���� Within 27 months of the
grant monies disbursed pursuant to subsection b. of this section, the
commissioner shall:� (1) establish and formulate evidence-based or
evidence-informed strategies, informed by the results of the research reported
by grant recipients pursuant to subsection b. of this act, to increase early
detection of uterine fibroids in health care settings; and (2) develop
education materials and training programs for health care providers on early
detection and treatment of uterine fibroids.� These strategies, materials, and
programs shall be annually reviewed and updated as needed, and will be utilized
to inform grants awarded pursuant to subsection d. of this section.

���� d.��� The commissioner shall
additionally distribute grant money, subject to the availability of funds, to
organizations for the following activities:

���� (1)�� screening procedures,
including advanced gynecological imaging and payment thereof;

���� (2)�� patient navigation
services;

���� (3)�� implementation of
evidence-based or evidence-informed strategies proven to increase early
detection of uterine fibroids in health care settings;

���� (4)�� facilitate access to
health care settings;

���� (5)�� research, including
clinical research trials, related to disparities in pain control and management
in uterine fibroid surgical treatment; and

���� (6)�� research, including
clinical research trials, related to Asherman�s Syndrome, intrauterine
adhesions, and other intrauterine conditions as determined appropriate by the
commissioner.

���� In awarding grants under this
act, the commissioner shall give priority to organizations applying in
partnership with community-based organizations.

���� e.���� Grant recipients shall
track:

���� (1)�� screening rates;

���� (2)�� early diagnosis rates;

���� (3)�� reduction in late-stage
complications; and

���� (4)�� patient outcomes.

���� f.���� Within one year and
annually thereafter, the commissioner shall submit a report to the Governor,
and pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature
detailing the grant recipients and the activities for which the money was awarded.�
As reports from grant recipients pursuant to this act become available, the
commissioner shall also include a summary of such reports received in the
calendar year prior to the submission deadline of this report to the Governor
and the Legislature.� The commissioner shall, upon request by the Governor or a
member of the Legislature, may make available any original report submitted by
a grant recipient, and may publish such reports on the Department of Health
website.

���� 3.��� There is established in
the Department of the Treasury a nonlapsing, revolving fund that shall be known
as the Uterine Fibroids Prevention Fund.� The fund shall support the research
and early detection of, and intervention for, uterine fibroids via grants
distributed by the Commissioner of Health pursuant to section 2 of this act.�
Monies in the fund may be a combination of State, federal, and private funds.�
The State Treasurer shall be the custodian of the fund and all disbursements
from the fund shall be made by the State Treasurer upon request by the
Commissioner of Health.� The monies in the fund shall be invested and
reinvested by the Director of the Division of Investment in the Department of
the Treasury in the same manner as other trust funds in the custody of the
State Treasurer, in the manner provided by law.� Interest received on the
monies in the fund shall be credited to the fund.

���� 4.��� There is appropriated
from the General Fund to the Uterine Fibroids Prevention Fund the sum of
$5,000,000 to administer the grant program as outlined in section 2 of this
act.

���� 5.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill creates a grant
program within the Department of Health for the early detection of and
intervention for uterine fibroids.� The Commissioner of Health (commissioner)
would distribute monies from the program to promote research on the early detection
of and intervention for uterine fibroids.�

���� Organizations that receive
grant funds could use the monies for the following purposes:

�

Researching the
early detection of and interventions for uterine fibroids;

�

Developing and
implementing public awareness campaigns for the early detection of and
intervention for uterine fibroids;

�

Screening
procedures, including advanced gynecological imaging and payment thereof;

�

Patient
navigation services;

�

Implementing
evidence-based or evidence-informed strategies proven to increase early
detection of uterine fibroids;

�

Facilitating
access to health care settings;

�

Researching,
including clinical research trials, related to disparities in pain control and
management in uterine fibroid surgical treatment; and

�

Researching,
including clinical research trials, related to Asherman�s Syndrome,
intrauterine adhesions, and other intrauterine conditions as determined
appropriate by the commissioner.

���� The grant recipients would be
required to submit a report to the commissioner on the use of the funds.� The
commissioner would be required to submit a yearly report to the Governor and
the Legislature on the names and purposes for which an organization received
funding in the previous year, and a summarization of the reports received from
the organizations.

���� The bill also creates a
nonlapsing, revolving fund, the Uterine Fibroids Prevention Fund, in the
Department of the Treasury to support the research and early detection of, and
intervention for, uterine fibroids.� Monies in the fund could be a combination
of State, federal, and private funds.� The State Treasurer would be the
custodian of the fund and all disbursements from the fund would be made by the
State Treasurer upon request by the Commissioner of Health.� The bill
appropriates $5 million to implement the grant program.�

���� Lastly, the bill directs the
Commissioner of Health, in consultation with the Commissioner of Banking and
Insurance, to evaluate and recommend policies to the Governor and the
Legislature within one calendar year of the date of enactment, which policies ensure
coverage for uterine fibroid screening and treatment under State-regulated
health plans.