Gerald Kleczka: “today, in honor of Mother's Day, I am introducing a bill to improve health protections for new mothers and their babies.…”

“today, in honor of Mother's Day, I am introducing a bill to improve health protections for new mothers and their babies. We have all heard the stories from mothers we represent about the difficulties and tragedies that can result from a too-early hospital discharge after childbirth. Providers concur that the first few days after delivery are critical to both the mother's and the infant's health. The Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act removes insurance mandates that restrict the length of postpartum care mothers and infants receive. The bill requires that health plans provide up to 48 hours of coverage for normal delivery, and 96 hours for caesarean section--the accepted recommendations of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The proposal is designed to ensure that post-delivery care is based on the unique characteristics of each mother and her newborn child. Like the Bradley-Kassebaum bill that overwhelmingly passed the Senate Labor Committee, this legislation would return the length of stay decision to mothers and their health care providers. The bill does not impose a mandate, but rather, removes one, giving doctors more flexibility in meeting the needs of their patients. All 15 Democratic Members of the Ways and Means Committee have joined me in introducing this important legislation.”