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.
�
