[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 135 (Thursday, September 26, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1711-E1712]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 3666, DEPARTMENTS OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND 
HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS 
                               ACT, 1997

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                               speech of

                         HON. ROBERT A. BORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 24, 1996

  Mr. BORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3666, 
the conference report on VA-HUD-Independent Agencies Appropriations for 
fiscal year 1997. I support this bill for many reasons but especially 
because it includes a provision that requires health insurance 
companies to cover 48 hours of hospital care for a woman after she 
gives birth.
  Mr. Speaker, my constituent, Mrs. Maureen Drumm is a perfect example 
of why this practice of drive-through deliveries must be stopped.
  On August 31, 1992, Maureen gave birth to her first daughter, Bridget 
Theresa. Bridget's first twenty-four hours of life were that of a 
normal, beautiful, healthy baby. However, approximately twenty-hours 
after Bridget was born, Maureen began to experience severe physical 
distress. Maureen had developed a

[[Page E1712]]

uterine infection, her temperature rose quickly to one hundred and four 
degrees, and she was in danger of lapsing into shock.
  Mrs. Drumm's doctors immediately placed her on heavy doses of 
antibiotics and other intravenously administered medications. But, 
despite her doctor's best efforts, her fever persisted for 5 days at 
rates over one hundred degrees.
  Although Maureen was quite ill, her greatest pain was not physical. 
Maureen was suffering mentally for her newborn daughter, Bridget. 
Approximately 48 hours after Bridget was born, she was moved to the 
intensive care unit. In a matter of hours, Bridget's bilirubin level--
the yellow-brown bile pigment in the blood--had jumped from a normal 
level of 11 to a dangerous level of 19. Bilirubin levels in the 
twenties can cause bilirubin encephalopathy--a condition which causes 
permanent brain and nervous system damage. Bilirubin levels of over 
twenty-two require transfusions which replace all of the blood in the 
baby's body. Bridget Theresa was in great danger.
  In time, Maureen's fever and Bridget's jaundice subsided because they 
were given high quality medical treatment and an adequate length of 
stay in the hospital. However, if they had been forced to leave twenty-
four hours after Maureen gave birth--they would not have been so lucky. 
Mr. Speaker, forcing women and their newborn babies out of the hospital 
after 24 hours is cruel, barbaric, and extremely dangerous. If this 
policy of mandating ``drive-through deliveries'' was in effect in 1992, 
Bridget Theresa could be mentally retarded and Maureen could have died.
  As you can imagine, Mr. Speaker, when Maureen became pregnant with 
her second child, she was quite nervous. Mrs. Drumm had learned that 
since her first delivery, her insurance company adopted a policy which 
required mothers and newborns be discharged from the hospital 24 hours 
after a ``normal delivery.'' Well, Maureen did have a ``normal 
delivery'' with her first daughter Bridget Theresa. It was only after 
the first 24 hours that their conditions became obvious.

  On July 26, 1995, Mrs. Drumm testified in front of the Pennsylvania 
House of Representatives Democratic Policy Committee. The next day 
Maureen received a phone call from Blue Cross/Blue Shield and was 
informed that because of her testimony, she would be pre-approved for a 
48-hour stay in the hospital after giving birth. On August 3, 1995, 
Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Philadelphia changed their policy to 
``Mother's Option''--which is 24 hours in the hospital and two home 
health care visits or 48 hours in the hospital.
  On August 6, 1995, Maureen gave birth to her second child--a 
beautiful, healthy baby girl--Maura Elizabeth. Maura also had an 
elevated bilirubin level on her second day of life and was given 
immediate treatment. Since Maureen and Maura were able to stay a second 
day in the hospital, Maureen was well rested and able to care for 
Maura's jaundice at home over the course of the next few days. Today, 
both of Maureen's daughters are growing beautifully.
  Mr. Speaker, since Maura's birth, Pennsylvania has joined a number of 
other States in making the option of a 48-hour hospital stay law. Now, 
we need to make it a Federal law.
  Mr. Speaker, Maureen Drumm's efforts in educating us all in this 
dangerous ``drive-through delivery'' practice should be commended. 
Maureen Drumm not only won a battle for herself, but for millions of 
women across this country. Although, many people would have been 
satisfied with being granted an extra day in the hospital for 
themselves, Maureen didn't stop there. Through many trips to Washington 
and many meetings with both Representatives and Senators, she has 
focused national attention on this issue, and has been a true leader in 
this fight for the rights of newborns and their mothers. Maureen Drumm 
has proven that one person really can make a difference. I congratulate 
Maureen Drumm and urge you to do the same by passing this important and 
vital legislation.

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