[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 106 (Tuesday, June 27, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H6317]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



[[Page H 6317]]


 PROPOSED LEGISLATION WOULD GUARANTEE LONGER HOSPITAL STAYS ON CERTAIN 
                           VAGINAL DELIVERIES

  (Mr. MILLER of California asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, having a baby is surely one of 
the most wonderful and important events for a family. Unfortunately, to 
maximize their profits, many insurance companies treat this event as 
just another opportunity to cut costs.
  Many insurance companies cover only 1 night's stay in the hospital 
after a normal vaginal delivery. For some women, this is enough time to 
recover from the delivery and get adjusted to breast feeding and caring 
for the baby. But for many other women, this is not enough time.
  Doctors are increasingly alarmed that babies are being discharged 
from hospitals within 24 hours. In that short time they cannot receive 
critical health assessments to prevent routine child illnesses from 
becoming serious health problems.
  Unfortunately, the decision to give more extensive care to a newborn 
baby and the mother--such as monitoring for early signs of jaundice--is 
in the hands of insurance companies, which either limit stays or 
pressure doctors to recommend short stays.
  Today I am introducing legislation with my colleague, Peter DeFazio, 
to require insurance plans contracting with the Federal Employee Health 
Benefits Program to cover a minimum stay in the hospital of 48 hours 
after a normal vaginal delivery, and 96 hours after a caesarean 
section. In the case of plans that offer at-home visits, this minimum 
is waived as long as the plan provides extensive at-home, post-partum 
visits.
  Mr. Speaker, let us start our babies off on the right foot. The 
health of the baby, not of insurance company portfolios, should be our 
No. 1 concern. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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