Under pressure from insurance provider who are seeking ways to cut health care costs, physicians have been encouraged to discharge women and their babies sooner than their medical judgment dictates, often as soon as twelve hours after delivery. Howell introduced a bill after hearing from a new father in her district who objected to his wife being required to leave the hospital in less than twenty four hours. Senator Howell explains, "the consequences of forcing women and babies out of the hospital has resulted in too many tragic stories in our nation of undetected post-childbirth complications in the mother or child. Newborns generally need to be observed for a minimum of forty-eight hours after delivery mainly to watch for conditions such as dehydration or jaundice, which usually develops within the first thirty-six hours after birth."
The legislation proposed by Senator Howell is similar to laws enacted in other states, including Maryland, but it is unique in that it would require insurance companies to provide coverage for two postpartum in-home visits for the mother who chooses to leave the hospital sooner than forty-eight hours after delivery. In such cases, the law would allow an early discharge to the mother and newborn who meet specific criteria for medical stability.
