Bill > S09111

This bill requires all insurance policies and health maintenance organization contracts to provide coverage for maternity patients and their newborns for hospital stays of at least 48 hours following childbirth by natural delivery and 96 hours following childbirth by caesarean section. It also provides such coverage for patients who are recipients of Medicaid. The bill specifies that the maternity care coverage must include parent education, assistance and training in breast or bottle feeding, and necessary maternal and newborn clinical assessments. Additionally, the bill allows mothers to be discharged earlier, in which case the coverage must include at least one home care visit within 24 hours of the discharge or the mother's request, whichever is later.