D.C. Code div. V, tit. 31, ch. 38 — Newborn Health Insurance | Code of the District of Columbia (through D.C. Law 26-190, Oct. 14, 2026) — District of Columbia

D.C. Code § 31-3801 Payable benefits.

31-3801. Payable benefits. All individual and group health insurance policies providing coverage on an expense-incurred basis and individual and group service-or indemnity-type contracts issued by a nonprofit health service plan shall provide that health insurance benefits shall be payable with respect to a newly born child of the insured or subscriber from the moment of birth. (Oct. 20, 1979, D.C. Law 3-33, § 2, 26 DCR 1116.)

D.C. Code § 31-3802.01 Inpatient postpartum treatment; at-home post-delivery care.

31-3802.01. Inpatient postpartum treatment; at-home post-delivery care. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, all individual and group health policies providing maternity and newborn care coverage on an expense-incurred basis and individual and group service or indemnity type contracts issued by a nonprofit health service plan, including policies issued by Group Hospitalization and Medical Services, Inc., shall provide coverage for inpatient postpartum treatment in accordance with the medical criteria outlined in the most current version of or an official update to the Guidelines for Perinatal Care (“Guidelines”) prepared by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians or the Standards for Obstetric-Gynecologic Services (“Standards”) prepared by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and such coverage must include an in-hospital stay of a minimum of 48 hours after a vaginal delivery, and 96 hours after a Caesarian delivery. (b) A private review agent or health maintenance organization may authorize a shorter length of stay if the physician, in consultation with the mother, determines that the newborn and mother meet the criteria for medical stability in accordance with the Guidelines or Standards. (c) In all cases of early discharge pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the insurer shall provide coverage for post-delivery care within the minimum time periods established in subsection (a) of this section, to be delivered in the patient’s home, or, in a provider’s office, as determined by the physician in consultation with the mother. The at-home post-delivery care shall be provided by a registered professional nurse, physician, nurse practitioner, certified midwife, certified nurse-midwife, or physician assistant experienced in maternal and child health, and shall include: (1) Parental education; (2) Assistance and training in breast or bottle feeding; and (3) Performance of any medically necessary and clinically appropriate tests, including the collection of an adequate sample for hereditary and metabolic newborn screening. (d) Upon notification of the pregnancy of the insured, the insurer shall: (1) Encourage and assist the insured, prior to the delivery date, to select and contact a primary care provider for the expected newborn prior to delivery; and, (2) Provide the insured prior to the delivery date with information on postpartum home visits for the mother and child that includes the names of providers that are available for postpartum home visits. (e) No insurer may deselect, terminate the services of, require additional documentation from, require additional utilization review, reduce payments, or otherwise provide financial disincentives to any attending provider who orders care consistent with this chapter. (f) Every insurer shall provide notice to policyholders regarding the coverage required under this chapter. The notice shall be in writing and shall be transmitted at the earliest of either the next mailing to the policyholder, the yearly summary of benefits sent to the policyholder, or January 1 of the year following April 9, 1997. (Oct. 20, 1979, D.C. Law 3-33, § 3a; as added Apr. 9, 1997, D.C. Law 11-241, § 3, 44 DCR 1125; Dec. 29, 2021, D.C. Law 24-46, § 4(b), 68 DCR 011642.)

D.C. Code § 31-3803 Notification of birth and payment of premiums or fees.

31-3803. Notification of birth and payment of premiums or fees. If payment of a specific premium or subscription fee is required to provide coverage for a child, the policy or contract may require that notification of birth of a newly born child and payment of the required premium or fees must be furnished to the insurer or nonprofit service or indemnity corporation within 31 days after the date of birth in order to have the coverage continue beyond such 31-day period. (Oct. 20, 1979, D.C. Law 3-33, § 4, 26 DCR 1116.)

D.C. Code § 31-3804 Applicability of chapter.

31-3804. Applicability of chapter. The requirements of this chapter shall apply: (1) To all insurance policies and subscriber contracts delivered or issued for delivery in the District more than 120 days after October 20, 1979. (2) To all such insurance policies and subscriber contracts renewed, amended or reissued after 120 days following October 20, 1979; (3) To only children born more than 120 days after October 20, 1979; (4) To all individual subscriber contracts and group certificates issued or delivered in the District of Columbia by Group Hospitalization and Medical Services, Inc.; (5) To all for-profit as well as nonprofit indemnity type health insurers issuing or delivering individual indemnity type accident and sickness health insurance policies and group certificates in the District of Columbia; and (6) To health insurance certificates, except those described in § 31-3802(2) [repealed], that are delivered within the District of Columbia from group health insurance policies which are sold outside of the District of Columbia. (Oct. 20, 1979, D.C. Law 3-33, § 5, 26 DCR 1116; May 21, 1992, D.C. Law 9-99, § 2(b), 39 DCR 2142.)

D.C. Code § 31-3805 Exclusions.

31-3805. Exclusions. Specifically excluded from the coverage requirements of this chapter are Medicare Supplement insurance policies, accident only policies, dread disease policies, student accident policies, nursing home policies, and home health care policies. (Oct. 20, 1979, D.C. Law 3-33, § 6; as added May 21, 1992, D.C. Law 9-99,§ 2(c), 39 DCR 2142.)