Newborn’s & Mother’s Health Protection Act

Group health plans and health insurance issuers generally may not, under federal law, restrict benefits for any hospital length of stay in connection with childbirth for the mother or newborn child to less than 48 hours following a vaginal delivery, or less than 96 hours following a Cesarean section (surgical incision into uterus to remove baby). However, federal law generally does not prohibit the mother’s or newborn’s attending doctor, after consulting with the mother, from discharging the mother or newborn earlier than 48 hours ( or 96 hours as applicable). In any case, plans and issuers of such plans may not, under federal law, require that a provider obtain authorization from the plan or issuer for prescribing a length of stay not in excess of 48 hours ( or 96 hours).