26:2-137.9 Lead screening, prenatal maternity care.
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/nj/title-26/chapter-2/26-2-137-9A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
2. a. A licensed health care professional, which shall include a licensed physician, licensed physician assistant, certified advanced practice nurse, certified nurse midwife, certified professional midwife, and certified midwife, who provides prenatal maternity care to a pregnant person shall assess the person for possible risk factors for lead exposure and elevated blood lead levels based on the most recent guidelines and recommendations of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
b. If the health care professional cannot perform a required lead screening, the health care professional may refer the patient, in writing, to another health care professional who is able to perform the lead screening.
c. If the health care professional receives laboratory test results indicating that the pregnant person has an elevated blood lead level, the health care professional shall notify the patient, in writing, about the test results and shall additionally provide the patient with an explanation, in plain language, of the significance of lead poisoning. The health care professional shall also take appropriate measures to ensure that any of the patient’s children or other members of the patient’s household who are under the age of six are, or have been, screened for lead exposure.
d. The health care professional shall not be required to conduct lead screening under this act if the patient objects to the testing in writing or if the health care professional determines that another health care provider has already conducted the lead screening required under this act.
e. The health care professional shall comply with the blood sample collection requirements specified in section 4 of P.L.1995, c.328 (C.26:2-137.5).
L.2025, c.193, s.2.