Senate File 2181 - Introduced SENATE FILE 2181 BY DANIELSON A BILL FOR An Act relating to coverage under the medical assistance 1 program for the costs associated with the birth of a child 2 relinquished under the newborn safe haven Act. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 6040SS (2) 84 jp/nh
S.F. 2181 Section 1. Section 233.2, subsection 2, paragraph b, Code 1 2011, is amended to read as follows: 2 b. (1) A newborn infant admitted to a hospital in 3 accordance with this section and the infant’s mother, for the 4 period of labor and delivery until the time of discharge of the 5 mother from the hospital, are presumed eligible for coverage 6 under the medical assistance program, subject to applicable 7 federal regulation. 8 (2) If the physical custody of the newborn infant is 9 relinquished at an institutional health facility, the state 10 shall reimburse the institutional health facility for the 11 institutional health facility’s actual expenses in providing 12 care to the newborn infant and in performing acts necessary to 13 protect the physical health or safety of the newborn infant. 14 The reimbursement shall be paid from moneys appropriated for 15 this purpose to the department of human services. 16 Sec. 2. Section 233.6, Code 2011, is amended by adding the 17 following new subsection: 18 NEW SUBSECTION . 2A. Public information announcements and 19 other materials to develop awareness of the option for pregnant 20 women who wish to voluntarily release custody of the newborn 21 infant in accordance with this chapter to be eligible for 22 coverage under the medical assistance program for labor and 23 delivery charges and hospital costs associated with the birth 24 until the time of discharge from the hospital. 25 Sec. 3. MEDICAL ASSISTANCE COVERAGE OF HOSPITAL COSTS 26 RELATED TO BIRTH OF CHILD UNDER THE NEWBORN SAFE HAVEN 27 ACT. The department of human services shall amend the medical 28 assistance state plan to provide for coverage of labor and 29 delivery charges and the hospital costs associated with the 30 birth of a child until the mother is discharged from the 31 hospital, for a mother who wishes to voluntarily release 32 custody by relinquishing physical custody of the child after 33 birth pursuant to chapter 233. 34 EXPLANATION 35 -1- LSB 6040SS (2) 84 jp/nh 1/ 2
S.F. 2181 This bill provides for coverage under the medical assistance 1 program (Medicaid) of a newborn infant and the infant’s mother 2 for labor and delivery and hospital charges associated with 3 the birth of a child until the mother is discharged from the 4 hospital, when the mother wishes to voluntarily release custody 5 by relinquishing physical custody of the newborn infant after 6 birth pursuant to Code chapter 233, the newborn safe haven Act. 7 The bill directs the department of human services (DHS) 8 in consultation with the department of public health and 9 the department of justice, to distribute public information 10 announcements and other materials to develop awareness of the 11 option for pregnant women who wish to voluntarily release 12 custody of their newborn infant under the newborn safe haven 13 Act to be eligible for coverage under the Medicaid program for 14 labor and delivery charges and hospital costs associated with 15 the birth until the time of discharge from the hospital. 16 The bill also directs DHS to amend the Medicaid state plan to 17 provide for the coverage described in the bill. 18 -2- LSB 6040SS (2) 84 jp/nh 2/ 2