CALIFORNIA: GOVERNOR SIGNS TWO HEALTH BILLS
Legislation designed "to protect mothers and their newbornsThis is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
from the hazards of" drive-through deliveries was signed into law
by Gov. Pete Wilson (R) Wednesday and will take effect
immediately, Los Angeles Times reports. Under the new law, HMOs
and health insurers are required "to cover at least 48 hours of
maternity care after a normal delivery and a minimum stay of 96
hours after a caesarean section." New mothers will be allowed to
leave the hospital earlier if a physician and the woman "desire
it and if the insurance plan provides for a post-discharge
follow-up visit." Spurred on by congressional passage of a
similar law last year, which takes effect in January, the
California measure, which was defeated in the last session, won
two-thirds approval in both houses -- "making it an 'urgency
measure' that takes effect immediately, rather than on" January
1. Assemblywoman Liz Figueroa (D), the proposal's sponsor, "said
the law would ensure that mothers are not rushed out of their
hospital beds too soon after childbirth and that babies 'begin
their life in a healthy, positive way.'"
KEEPING UP WITH THE DOCS
Gov. Wilson signed another bill Wednesday, also sponsored by
Figueroa, requiring the California Medical Board to post certain
physician information on the Internet. Under the mandate, the
Medical Board will post "reports of hospital disciplinary
actions, malpractice awards, criminal convictions and discipline
measures taken by the Medical Board" (Warren, 8/28).