1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to insurance; requiring coverage for the transfer and hospital care 
1.3 	of mothers whose newborns have been transferred to another health facility; 
1.4 	requiring coverage for a health care professional to accompany the newborn 
1.5 	during the transfer;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 
1.6 	62A.
1.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8 	Section 1. [62A.0412] TRANSFERS OF NEWBORNS AND MOTHERS OF 
1.9 	NEWBORNS.
1.10 		Subdivision 1.Scope of coverage. This section applies to all health plans providing 
1.11 	maternity benefits offered by accident and health insurance; health maintenance contracts 
1.12 	regulated under chapter 62D; a nonprofit health services plan corporation operating under 
1.13 	chapter 62C; or health coverage offered by a joint self-insurance employee health plan 
1.14 	operating under chapter 62H.
1.15 		Subd. 2.Required coverage. (a) If during a mother's hospital stay, her newborn 
1.16 	is transferred for medical reasons to another hospital, every health plan referred to in 
1.17 	subdivision 1 must provide coverage for the transfer of the mother to that hospital and for 
1.18 	the remaining duration of inpatient care required to be provided under section 62A.0411. 
1.19 	This section shall only apply if the hospital where the newborn was transferred has the 
1.20 	bed capacity and can provide the medical services necessary to accommodate the transfer 
1.21 	and the mother's medical condition. The health plan may prorate the hospital payment for 
1.22 	services provided to the mother. 
1.23 	(b) If the medical condition of a newborn requires the transport of the newborn to 
1.24 	another hospital, the health plan must provide coverage for the transport of the newborn so 
1.25 	long as a physician or an advanced practiced nurse practitioner accompanies the transport.