New Jersey:
Protecting Reproductive Freedom
New Jersey stands for reproductive freedom. Here, you can practice medicine with integrity, free from political interference. Whether you're a practicing provider or training for the future, you'll have the support, protection, and freedom to do what you do best — practice patient-centered, evidence-based care.
What New Jersey is doing to
protect reproductive freedom
The Murphy Administration is committed to protecting reproductive freedom while bolstering access to reproductive health care.
Increasing Protection
New Jersey’s historic Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act codified the constitutional right to access contraception, terminate a pregnancy, and carry a pregnancy to term.
In 2022, the State also strengthened protections for patients and providers in New Jersey. For patients, residents of other states who seek reproductive health care in New Jersey can access confidential care without fear of prosecution. For providers, State law shields reproductive health practitioners from out-of-state prosecution for delivering care that’s legal in New Jersey, and protects their personal information.
Expanding Access and Affordability
The State has made efforts to make reproductive health care more affordable, such as requiring coverage for contraception, ensuring continuous Medicaid coverage for 365 days postpartum, and providing comprehensive abortion coverage in state-regulated health insurance markets.
New Jersey also reduces the costs of delivering safety-net care through over $30M in annual funding of the State family planning program and increases to Medicaid reimbursement rates.
Investing in Maternal and Infant Health
The Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center is currently under development in Trenton. It is intended to serve as an anchor for equitable provision of maternal and infant health care services, as well as a training and education site for the perinatal workforce.
More information about reproductive health care and how to access services is readily available at the State’s Reproductive Health Information Hub.
I know how absolutely critical it is to take care of your patient without having to ask a lawyer if what you’re doing is still legal. New Jersey’s constitution protects reproductive rights, and we support the people who deliver that care.
Dr. Kaitlan Baston
Commissioner,
New Jersey Department of Health
New Jersey's Reproductive Health care Landscape
New Jersey has taken decisive action to safeguard and expand reproductive health care with strong legal protections and significant funding for providers and patients alike. And with some of the nation’s top hospitals, research institutions, and pharmaceutical companies based in New Jersey, our providers have ready access to the latest and most cutting-edge advancements in reproductive health.
The State Board of Medical Examiners has ensured that providers — including physicians, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, and midwives — are trusted to offer reproductive care within their scope of practice by removing unnecessary abortion regulations.
New Jersey is currently investing $30 million a year in family planning programs, as well as loan repayment for providers in underserved communities and security upgrades for facilities. Plus, the State has started stockpiling a six-month supply of Mifepristone to ensure access remains uninterrupted.
In New Jersey, reproductive health care is based on science, not politics. The New Jersey Reproductive Training and Education Initiative, a collaboration between the State and Rutgers University, ensures future providers get the complete, hands-on reproductive health training needed to deliver evidence-based care by integrating abortion care into training curricula.
These measures and more make New Jersey an attractive and competitive place for health care professionals and students to practice and learn.
Find Resources That Fit Your Path
New Jersey protects reproductive rights by supporting medical professionals at every stage. Students and residents gain top-tier training and mentorship while practicing physicians benefit from strong legal protections and career opportunities. Choose your path to see how New Jersey supports you.
Choose to learn and train in a state that shares your values.
New Jersey is home to five nationally ranked medical schools that excel in research and primary care, including Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine and Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University was ranked New Jersey's top primary care school by U.S. News & World Report.
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School earned top spots in U.S. News & World Report's rankings for research and primary care.
Students in New Jersey gain hands-on experience at top-ranked health systems like RWJBarnabas Health and Hackensack Meridian Health.
Looking for a residency in New Jersey?
Explore fellowship programs that support your future in reproductive heath care. Fellowships in New Jersey include:
- Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellowship
- Rutgers Cancer Institute and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Program
- Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellowship
In New Jersey, you can focus on what matters most — your patients.
Health care professionals in New Jersey can offer reproductive care, including abortion services, within their scope of practice.
Licensed health care professionals can find available OB/GYN positions in underserved communities.
The New Jersey Hospital Association offers a job board for health care professionals statewide.
Live your values in New Jersey
In New Jersey, we don't just talk about our values — we live them. Here, fundamental freedoms and human rights are codified into New Jersey law. Legislative leaders advocate for voting, civil, LGBTQIA+, and reproductive rights. New Jersey is also one of the most diverse states in the nation and was named the #1 safest state to live in by Consumer Affairs. Its public schools lead the nation in foreign language enrollment. New Jersey was also among the first states to mandate an LGBTQIA+ and disability-inclusive history curriculum, ensuring our students receive a globalized and comprehensive education. The State's many higher education institutions universities — 32 of which are thriving public universities — are celebrated for their ethnic diversity, preparing students to thrive in a multicultural world. With top-ranked schools, safe neighborhoods, and culturally rich communities, New Jersey is a place where everyone can feel right at home.