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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 20, 2022 12:35 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Gina H. Curry and Rep. Dan L. Miller |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Providing Enhanced Maternity Care |
| Under current law healthcare coverage for the birth of a child typically ends after only 48 or 96 hours, depending on the method of delivery. For many though, childbirth can be traumatic, whether physically, mentally and/or emotionally. Rushed discharge can compound stress, enhance postpartum concerns, and force people out the door late at night with sometimes little access to reliable transportation. We can and should do better. Our legislation offers more support to new parents by requiring Pennsylvania insurance carriers cover up to an additional 24 hours of maternity care under observation at the discretion of the patient. This additional period would allow more time to rest and recover from the birth, and provide more time to make sure that the family is ready for the transition home. This optional extended medical observation would require a lower level of staff monitoring while still allowing for a quick upgrade of medical care within the facility if necessary. In addition, our bill prevents hospitals from involuntarily discharging the patient between the hours of 10 pm and 8 am, so as to increase the availability of reliable transportation. With these important changes, we can ensure that all members of the family are ready to go home and thereby prevent exhausted, recovering parents from being forced to find their way when a little more time beforehand would make a big difference! Please consider supporting the newest Pennsylvanians and their parents by co-sponsoring this legislation. |
Introduced as HB1075