TITLE 27

Insurance

CHAPTER 27-18

Accident and Sickness Insurance Policies

SECTION 27-18-33.1



   § 27-18-33.1  Insurance coverage for

post-partum hospital stays. –

(a) Every individual or group hospital or medical services plan contract

delivered, issued for delivery, as renewed in this state which provides

maternity benefits shall provide coverage for a forty-eight (48) hour time

period in a hospital after a vaginal birth and ninety-six (96) hours after a

Cesarean section for a mother and her newly born child. Any decision to shorten

this minimum coverage shall be made by the attending health care provider in

consultation with the mother. The decision shall be made in accordance with the

standards for guidelines for perinatal care published by the American College

of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The

standards shall be relative to early discharge, defined as less than

forty-eight (48) hours for a vaginal delivery and ninety-six (96) for a

Cesarean delivery. In the case of early discharge, post-delivery care shall

include: home visits, parent education, assistance and training in breast or

bottle feeding and the performance of any necessary and appropriate clinical

tests or any other tests or services consistent with these guidelines.



   (b) For the purposes of this section, "attending health care

provider" includes the attending obstetrician, pediatrician, family

practitioner, general practitioner or certified nurse midwife attending the

mother and newly born child.



   (c) Any subscriber who is aggrieved by a denial of benefits

to be provided under this section may appeal the denial in accordance with

regulations of the department of health, which have been promulgated pursuant

to chapter 17.12 of title 23. No policy or plan covered under this chapter

shall terminate the services, reduce capitation payment, or penalize an

attending physician or other health care provider who orders care consistent

with the provisions of this section.



History of Section.

(P.L. 1996, ch. 246, § 2; P.L. 1996, ch. 260, § 2; P.L. 2002, ch.

292, § 33.)