MISSOURI BILLS TARGET `DRIVE-THROUGH' BIRTHS

A number of state legislators have introduced bills meant to end so-called drive-through births in Missouri.

The bills are prompted by concerns that mothers and their newborns are being rushed out of hospitals because of cost-cutting pressures from insurance companies.

Three separate bills introduced in the Senate and four others in the House would require insurance companies to pay for hospital stays of 48 hours after a normal birth and 96 hours following Caesarean delivery.

In many cases, mothers and their infants now are sent home within 24 hours of birth.

"To me it seems like a common sense issue," said Sen. Irene Treppler, R-St. Louis, one of the Senate sponsors. "If a woman has a baby and there are complications and they need to stay for more than 24 hours, the insurance company should have to pay for it."

Treppler said she couldn't walk for six weeks due to complications after the birth of her first child. She remained hospitalized for two weeks.

"I think most women realize it is not an easy thing to give birth and often there are complications," Treppler said.

The version submitted by Sen. Betty Sims, R-St. Louis, calls for the 48/96-hour rule only in the case of mothers delivering their first child, since they are not experienced with giving birth. For subsequent children, the length of stay would be up to the doctor's discretion.

The issue is being heard in the Senate Insurance and Housing Committee. The committee vice chairman, Sen. Ted House, D-St. Charles, has submitted a substitute bill combining all the Senate versions. He expects it to be approved by the committee this week.

The doctors House has talked with support the legislation since certain problems such as jaundice aren't immediately detectable, he said.

"It is medically unsafe to discharge an infant that soon. Very often conditions don't show up until the second day."

Sims said the Missouri Department of Health also favors the measure.

How do insurance companies feel about it?

"They hate it," House said, noting they would prefer market competition to set standards.

However, House said the market too often fails to provide that choice, leaving only the options of take it or leave it. When it comes to health care, that isn't much of a choice, he said.

"The need is there and there is a lot of support for it," House said. "In fact, I think the insurance lobby knows this is the direction we are heading in and there is not a lot they can do except try to make it as palatable as possible."