Neonatal Care Transparency Act of 2025
Summary
The Neonatal Care Transparency Act of 2025 aims to ensure that hospitals and obstetric practitioners disclose their policies regarding life-saving care for premature infants. This includes whether there is a minimum gestational age at which such care will be provided and the process for transferring infants to facilities equipped to provide such care. The bill amends the Social Security Act to prohibit federal Medicaid and CHIP funding for hospitals and obstetrics providers that do not comply with these disclosure requirements.
Expected Effects
The act will require hospitals and practitioners to be transparent about their policies regarding neonatal care for premature births. This may lead to increased awareness among parents and potentially influence their choice of healthcare providers and birthing centers. Non-compliant hospitals and providers could lose Medicaid and CHIP funding.
Potential Benefits
- Increased transparency in neonatal care policies.
- Empowered parents making informed decisions about healthcare.
- Potential for improved neonatal outcomes through informed choices.
- Standardized disclosure requirements across hospitals and practices.
- Incentive for hospitals to review and potentially improve their neonatal care policies.
Potential Disadvantages
- Increased administrative burden on hospitals and practitioners.
- Potential for misinterpretation of policies by parents.
- Risk of hospitals facing funding cuts due to non-compliance.
- Possible disparities in access to care if some hospitals opt out of providing care for extremely premature infants.
- Potential for increased anxiety among expectant parents due to the complexities of neonatal care decisions.
Constitutional Alignment
The act aligns with the Constitution's general welfare clause (Preamble) by promoting the health and well-being of infants and families. It also touches upon the Tenth Amendment, as healthcare regulation is traditionally a state matter, but the federal government can influence state actions through funding conditions. The disclosure requirements do not appear to infringe upon any specific constitutional rights.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).