Alabama § 27-48-2 - Coverage for Medically Necessary Inpatient Care for Mother and Newly Born Child.

§ 27-48-2. Coverage for Medically Necessary Inpatient Care for Mother and Newly Born Child.

(a) Every health benefit plan that provides maternity coverage shall provide coverage for the following:

(1) All medically necessary inpatient care for a mother and her newly born child as determined by the woman’s prenatal care physician, obstetrician-gynecologist, certified nurse midwife, or the child’s attending pediatrician and when consistent with the most recent version of the “Guidelines for Perinatal Care” prepared by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, including the administration of medical tests recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics or the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists or both on the admission and discharge of a mother and the newborn child to determine whether additional medical care is needed for the mother or newborn child or both. Included in medically necessary inpatient care is the requirement that all hospitals providing a maternity hospital stay perform a complete blood count with differential, or its equivalent, on the mother upon admission and discharge of the mother from the hospital.

(2) Benefits for any hospital length of stay of not less than 48 hours in connection with childbirth for the mother or newborn child, following a normal vaginal delivery.

(3) Benefits for any hospital length of stay of not less than 96 hours in connection with childbirth for the mother or newborn child, following a cesarean section.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions (2) and (3) of subsection (a), a mother may be discharged early if she, after being advised by her medical provider in writing of the advantages and disadvantages of early discharge, consents in writing, and the medical provider agrees to the early discharge.