Requires coverage of a hospitalized birthing parent's interhospital transport to accompany their infant needing such transport

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Marianne Buttenschon and 7 co-sponsors

Requires insurers to cover the hospitalized birthing parent's interhospital transport when they accompany an infant moved between facilities.

REFERRED TO INSURANCE

Basic Information

Bill Number: A 7384

Title: Requires coverage of a hospitalized birthing parent's interhospital transport to accompany their infant needing such transport

Status: REFERRED TO INSURANCE

Introduced: March 25, 2025

Classification: Bill (assembly)

Sponsorship

Primary Sponsor: Karines Reyes

Cosponsors: Linda Rosenthal, Demond Meeks, Marianne Buttenschon

Related Legislation

Companion Bills: S 7731 (companion)

What the Bill Seeks to Do (Purpose and Intent)

The bill would require health insurance coverage for the interhospital transport of a hospitalized birthing parent in order to accompany their infant who needs such transport.

In practical terms, when an infant requires transfer between facilities for medical reasons, the birthing parent who is hospitalized would have the cost of their own interhospital transport covered by their health insurer as part of the infant’s transfer arrangement.

Key Provisions (What would Change)

Coverage Obligation: Insurers would be obligated to cover the interhospital transport costs for the hospitalized birthing parent to accompany the infant during the infant’s transfer between hospitals.

Scope: The provision addresses scenarios where the infant is being transported to another facility for medical care and ensures the parent’s transport is included in the coverage.

Cost-Sharing and Network Details: The summary notes do not include specifics on copayments, deductibles, out-of-network considerations, or other cost-sharing details; those would be defined in the bill text.

Definitions: The bill would define terms such as “birthing parent,” “interhospital transport,” and related terms within its statutory language (definitions not provided in the summary).

Who Is Affected

Hospitalized Birthing Parents and Their Infants: Families facing interhospital transport for the infant would gain coverage for the parent’s transport.

Health Insurers: Required to provide coverage for the parent’s transport in the specified circumstances.

Hospitals and Medical Providers: May experience alignment with the new coverage requirements during transfer planning and billing.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Status in Committee: Referred to the Insurance committee (March 25, 2025). The bill has not yet advanced beyond committee referral in the provided information.

Legislative Path: As an Assembly bill, it would need approval by the Assembly and then potentially movement to the Senate (and a companion bill S 7731 exists) for broader consideration and potential enactment.

Next Steps: Committee hearings, amendments, and votes; reconciliation with any companion Senate version; final passage and signature or veto considerations.

Potential Impact (Overview)

Health Equity and Family-Centered Care: Aims to reduce financial and logistical barriers for families when an infant requires interfacility transport.

Cost Implications: Could affect insurer costs and premiums; specifics would depend on the final language (coverage limits, in-network vs out-of-network provisions, and any applicable caps).

Implementation: Hospitals and insurers would need to coordinate to ensure transport coverage is properly billed and applied.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to specific readers (policy staff, healthcare providers, or general public) or compare it to the companion Senate bill S 7731 if you provide more text from either version.

Bill