S. 1834: Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act
The Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act is a piece of legislation aimed at enhancing maternal and newborn healthcare. Here’s a summary of its key provisions:
Comprehensive Health Benefits
The bill amends the Affordable Care Act to ensure that essential health benefits include:
- Comprehensive prenatal care
- Labor and delivery services
- Neonatal care
- Perinatal care
- Postpartum care and screenings
Specific Requirements for Coverage
The legislation outlines specific services that must be included in the coverage, such as:
- Ultrasounds by licensed providers
- Care related to spontaneous pregnancy loss or miscarriage
- Delivery services, including anesthesiology and fetal monitoring
- Postpartum behavioral health services for conditions exacerbated by pregnancy (e.g., diabetes, hypertension)
- Behavioral health services for non-birthing parents regarding new parenthood during the year after the child’s birth
No Cost-Sharing Requirement
The act prohibits health insurance plans from imposing any cost-sharing requirements (like copayments or deductibles) for the services mentioned above. This applies to both group health plans and individual health insurance coverage.
Implementation Timeline
The changes outlined in the bill will take effect for plan years starting on or after the date the legislation is enacted.
Relation to Existing Laws
The amendments made by this bill are to be treated as if they were part of the original Affordable Care Act, indicating that they will integrate into the existing framework of health insurance regulations.
Regulatory Framework
The bill amends various sections of the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), and the Internal Revenue Code to enforce these new requirements regarding maternity and newborn care coverage.
Relevant Companies
- UNH (UnitedHealth Group) - As a major health insurance provider, UnitedHealth would need to adjust its coverage offerings to align with the provisions of this bill, potentially impacting its business operations and insurance plans.
- ANTM (Anthem, Inc.) - This company would also be required to modify its plans to comply with the bill's mandate of no cost-sharing for maternal and newborn health care services.
- HUM (Humana Inc.) - Similar to other insurers, Humana would need to provide enhanced coverage options, likely requiring changes to existing plans and pricing structures.
This is an AI-generated summary of the bill text. There may be mistakes.
Sponsors
4 bill sponsors
Actions
2 actions
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| May. 21, 2025 | Introduced in Senate |
| May. 21, 2025 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. |
Corporate Lobbying
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