33-22-133. Coverage for minimum hospital stay following childbirth. (1) For the purposes of this section, "attending health care provider" means a person licensed under Title 37 who is responsible for providing obstetrical and pediatric care to a mother and newborn infant.

(2) Each group or individual policy, certificate of disability insurance, subscriber contract, membership contract, or health care services agreement that provides coverage for maternity services, including benefits for childbirth, must provide coverage for at least 48 hours of inpatient hospital care following a vaginal delivery and at least 96 hours of inpatient hospital care following delivery by cesarean section for a mother and newborn infant in a health care facility as defined in 50-5-101.

(3) A decision to shorten the length of inpatient stay to less than that provided under subsection (2) must be made by the attending health care provider and the mother. A health benefit plan, as defined in 33-22-1803, may not terminate the service of an attending health care provider or penalize or otherwise provide financial disincentives to an attending health care provider in response to orders by the attending health care provider for care consistent with the provisions of this section.

(4) A health benefit plan that provides coverage for postdelivery care that is provided to a mother and newborn infant in the home may not be required to provide coverage of inpatient care under subsection (2) unless the inpatient care is determined to be medically necessary by the attending health care provider.

(5) A health benefit plan, as defined in 33-22-243, must provide written notice, in a manner consistent with the provisions of this chapter, to all enrollees, insureds, or subscribers regarding the coverage required by this section.

History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 183, L. 1997.