H.R. 3762: Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act

This bill, titled the Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act, aims to enhance maternity and newborn care under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by eliminating out-of-pocket costs associated with prenatal, childbirth, neonatal, perinatal, and postpartum health care services. Here is a breakdown of its main components:

1. Maternity and Newborn Care Requirements

The bill amends existing healthcare laws to require that insurance plans cover comprehensive maternity and newborn care. This includes:

• Prenatal care, including ultrasounds.
• Labor and delivery services, covering all necessary medical assistance during childbirth.
• Neonatal and perinatal care, ensuring support for infants and mothers right after birth.
• Postpartum care, which encompasses mental health services for new parents, including those who did not give birth but have a child within one year.

2. Elimination of Cost-Sharing

The bill introduces a provision that prohibits health insurance companies from imposing cost-sharing for the aforementioned healthcare benefits. This means:

• No deductibles, copays, or coinsurance charges will be levied for prenatal, childbirth, neonatal, perinatal, or postpartum services.
• Insurance providers must cover these services fully as part of the health benefits.

3. Applicability

The new requirements will come into force for insurance plans starting on or after the date the bill is enacted. This means that once implemented, the changes will apply to all new health insurance plans and renewals.

4. Legal and Regulatory Framework

The bill modifies various statutes, including the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), and the Internal Revenue Code. It ensures that all relevant health insurance plans comply with the new standards of care at no additional cost to the covered individuals.

5. Overall Impact

In summary, the Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act seeks to comprehensively improve healthcare access for mothers and newborns by removing financial barriers to necessary medical services. Its intent is to ensure that all individuals receive adequate care during this critical period without financial strain.

Relevant Companies

• UNH (UnitedHealth Group Incorporated): As a major health insurance provider, UnitedHealth Group could see operational changes in its policy offerings due to the requirements of this act.
• ANTM (Anthem, Inc.): This company would likely need to align its insurance products with the mandated coverage requirements, impacting how it structures pricing and premiums.
• CNC (Centene Corporation): Centene, another large healthcare insurance provider, may face adjustments in claims processing and coverage plans to comply with the bill's stipulations.