110 STAT. 2942 PUBLIC LAW 104-204—SEPT. 26, 1996 42 USC 300gg- 44. 42 USC 300gg- 61. 42 USC 300gg- 62. Applicability. 42 USC SOOgg- 44 note. 42 USC 300gg-4 note. "(A) Such State law requires such coverage to provide for at least a 48-hour hospital length of stay following a normal vaginal delivery and at least a 96-hour hospital length of stay following a cesarean section. "(B) Such State law requires such coverage to provide for maternity and pediatric care in accordance with guidelines established by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Pediatrics, or other established professional medical associations. "(C) Such State law requires, in connection with such coverage for maternity care, that the hospital length of stay for such care is left to the decision of (or required to be made by) the attending provider in consultation with the mother. "(2) CONSTRUCTION.— Section 2762(a) shall not be construed as superseding a State law described in paragraph (1).". (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Such part (as so added) is further amended as follows: (1) In section 2744(a)(1), strike "2746(b)" and insert " 2762(b)". (2) In section 2745(a)(1) (before redesignation under subsection (a)(1)), strike "2746" and insert "2762". (3) In section 2746(b) (before redesignation under subsection (a)(1))— (A) by inserting "(1)" after the dash, and (B) by adding at the end the following: "(2) Nothing in this part (other than section 2751) shall be construed as requiring health insurance coverage offered in the individual market to provide specific benefits under the terms of such coverage.". (c) EFFECTIVE DATE. —The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to health insurance coverage offered, sold, issued, renewed, in effect, or operated in the individual market on or after January 1, 1998. SEC. 606. REPORTS TO CONGRESS CONCERNING CHILDBIRTH.— (a) FINDINGS. —Congress finds that— (1) childbirth is one part of a continuum of experience that includes prepregnancy, pregnancy and prenatal care, labor and delivery, the immediate postpartum period, and a longer period of adjustment for the newborn, the mother, and the family; (2) health care practices across this continuum are changing in response to health care financing and delivery system changes, science and clinical research, and patient preferences; and (3) there is a need— (A) to examine the issues and consequences associated with the length of hospital stays following childbirth; (B) to examine the follow-up practices for mothers and newborns used in conjunction with shorter hospital stays; (C) to identify appropriate health care practices and procedures with regard to the hospital discharge of newborns and mothers; (D) to examine the extent to which such care is affected by family and environmental factors; and (E) to examine the content of care during hospital stays following childbirth.
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