1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to insurance; health; regulating childbirth 
  1.3             and postpartum care benefits; amending Minnesota 
  1.4             Statutes 1994, section 62A.041, by adding a 
  1.5             subdivision. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 62A.041, is 
  1.8   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.9      Subd. 4.  [INPATIENT CARE.] Every health plan as defined in 
  1.10  section 62Q.01, subdivision 3, that provides maternity benefits 
  1.11  must, consistent with other coinsurance, copayment, deductible, 
  1.12  and related contract terms, provide coverage of a minimum of 48 
  1.13  hours of inpatient care following a vaginal delivery and a 
  1.14  minimum of 96 hours of inpatient care following a Caesarean 
  1.15  section for a mother and her newborn.  A decision to shorten the 
  1.16  duration of inpatient care to less than the minimums provided in 
  1.17  this section must be made by the mother after consulting with 
  1.18  the attending health care provider.  The health plan shall not 
  1.19  provide any compensation or other non-medical thing of value to 
  1.20  encourage a mother and newborn to leave inpatient care before 
  1.21  the duration minimums specified in this section. 
  1.22     For purposes of this section, attending health care 
  1.23  provider includes the attending obstetrician, pediatrician, 
  1.24  family physician or other physician, certified nurse midwife, or 
  1.25  pediatric nurse practitioner attending the mother or her newborn.
  2.1      The health plan must also provide coverage for postdelivery 
  2.2   care to a mother and her newborn if the duration of inpatient 
  2.3   care is less than the minimums provided in this section. 
  2.4      Postdelivery care consists of a minimum of one home visit 
  2.5   by a registered nurse.  Services provided by the registered 
  2.6   nurse include, but are not limited to, parent education, 
  2.7   assistance and training in breast and bottle feeding, and 
  2.8   conducting any necessary and appropriate clinical tests.  The 
  2.9   home visit must be conducted within a reasonable period of time 
  2.10  following the discharge of the mother and her child. 
  2.11     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION.] 
  2.12     Section 1 is effective August 1, 1996, and applies to 
  2.13  health plans issued or renewed to provide coverage to a 
  2.14  Minnesota resident on or after that date.