STATE OF CONNECTICUT
Substitute Bill No. 330 Page 1
LCO No.
General Assembly
February Session, A.D., 1996
AN ACT CONCERNING MINIMUM STAY FOR POST MATERNITY CARE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in
General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (a) As used in this section, "carrier" means
each insurer, health care center, hospital and medical service
corporation, or other entity delivering, issuing for delivery,
renewing or amending any individual health insurance policy in
this state on or after October 1, 1996, providing coverage of the
type specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (6), (10), (11) and
(12) of section 38a-469 of the general statutes.
(b) Each individual health insurance carrier that offers
maternity benefits shall provide coverage of a minimum of
forty-eight hours of inpatient care for a mother and her newborn
infant following a vaginal delivery and a minimum of ninety-six
hours of inpatient care for a mother and her newborn infant
following a cesarean delivery. The time periods shall commence at
the time of delivery.
(c) Any decision to shorten the length of inpatient stay to
less than that provided under subsection (b) of this section
shall be made by the attending health care providers after
conferring with the mother.
(d) If a mother and newborn are discharged pursuant to
subsection (c) of this section, prior to the inpatient length of
stay provided under subsection (b) of this section, coverage
shall be provided for a follow-up visit within forty-eight hours
of discharge and an additional follow-up visit within seven days
of discharge. Such follow-up services shall include, but not be
limited to, physical assessment of the newborn, parent education,
assistance and training in breast or bottle feeding, assessment
of the home support system and the performance of any medically
necessary and appropriate clinical tests. Such services shall be
consistent with protocols and guidelines developed by attending
providers or by national pediatric, obstetric and nursing
professional organizations for these services and shall be
provided by qualified health care personnel trained in postpartum
maternal and newborn pediatric care.
(e) Each individual health insurance carrier shall provide
notice to policyholders regarding the coverage required under
this act. The notice shall be in writing and shall be transmitted
at the earliest of either the next mailing to the policyholder,
the yearly summary of benefits sent to the policyholder or
January 1, 1997.
Sec. 2. (NEW) (a) As used in this section, "carrier" means
each insurer, health care center, hospital and medical service
corporation, or other entity delivering, issuing for delivery,
renewing or amending any group health insurance policy in this
state on or after October 1, 1996, providing coverage of the type
specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (6), (10), (11) and (12)
of section 38a-469 of the general statutes.
(b) Each group insurance carrier that offers maternity
benefits shall provide coverage of a minimum of forty-eight hours
of inpatient care for a mother and her newborn infant following a
vaginal delivery and a minimum of ninety-six hours of inpatient
care for a mother and her newborn infant following a cesarean
delivery. The time periods shall commence at the time of
delivery.
(c) Any decision to shorten the length of inpatient stay to
less than that provided under subsection (b) of this section
shall be made by the attending health care providers after
conferring with the mother.
(d) If a mother and newborn are discharged pursuant to
subsection (c) of this section, prior to the inpatient length of
stay provided under subsection (b) of this section, coverage
shall be provided for a follow-up visit within forty-eight hours
of discharge and an additional follow-up visit within seven days
of discharge. Such follow-up services shall include, but not be
limited to, physical assessment of the newborn, parent education,
assistance and training in breast or bottle feeding, assessment
of the home support system and the performance of any medically
necessary and appropriate clinical tests. Such services shall be
consistent with protocols and guidelines developed by attending
providers or by national pediatric, obstetric and nursing
professional organizations for these services and shall be
provided by qualified health care personnel trained in postpartum
maternal and newborn pediatric care.
(e) Each group insurance carrier shall provide notice to
policyholders regarding the coverage required under this act. The
notice shall be in writing and shall be transmitted at the
earliest of either the next mailing to the policyholder, the
yearly summary of benefits sent to the policyholder or January 1,
1997.
Sec. 3. This act shall take effect from its passage.
INS COMMITTEE VOTE: YEA 17 NAY 0 JFS