PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor                             Ch. 397

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1990 Replacement Volume and 1995 Supplement)

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - Health - General
Section 19-706(i) and 19-1305.4
Annotated Code, of Maryland
(1990 Replacement Volume and 1995 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 48A - Insurance Code

354F.

(A) Every nonprofit health insurer who issues or delivers a health insurance policy
to any person in this State under which any hospitalization benefits are provided for
normal pregnancy shall provide those benefits for the cost of hospitalization for childbirth
to the same extent as the hospitalization benefit provided in the policy for any covered
illness. [This provision may not be construed, however, to require any insurer to provide
benefits for pregnancy or childbirth in any policy.]

(B) (1) IN ADDITION TO THE PROVISIONS OF § 490FF OF THIS ARTICLE AND
SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION. WHENEVER A MOTHER IS REQUIRED TO REMAIN
HOSPITALIZED AFTER CHILDBIRTH FOR MEDICAL REASONS AND THE MOTHER
REQUESTS THAT THE NEWBORN REMAIN IN THE HOSPITAL, A NONPROFIT HEALTH
SERVICE PLAN SHALL PAY THE COST OF ADDITIONAL HOSPITALIZATION FOR THE
NEWBORN FOR UP TO 4 DAYS.

(2) THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN OR CERTIFIED NURSE MIDWIFE OF THE
MOTHER. OR THE DESIGNEE OF THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN OR CERTIFIED NURSE
MIDWIFE SHALL PROVIDE NOTICE TO THE MOTHER OF THE PROVISIONS OF
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION.

470H.

(A) Every insurer who issues or delivers an individual health insurance policy to
any person in this State under which any hospitalization benefits are provided for normal
pregnancy shall provide those benefits for the cost of hospitalization for childbirth to the
same extent as the hospitalization benefit provided in the policy for any covered illness.
[This provision may not be construed, however, to require any insurer to provide benefits
for pregnancy or childbirth in any policy.]

(B) (1) IN ADDITION TO THE PROVISIONS OF § 490FF OF THIS ARTICLE AND
SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION, WHENEVER A MOTHER IS REQUIRED TO REMAIN
HOSPITALIZED AFTER CHILDBIRTH FOR MEDICAL REASONS AND THE MOTHER
REQUESTS THAT THE NEWBORN REMAIN IN THE HOSPITAL, AN INSURER SHALL PAY
THE COST OF ADDITIONAL HOSPITALIZATION FOR THE NEWBORN FOR UP TO 4
DAYS.

- 2621 -