Abstract
"Drive-through deliveries," women delivering their babies and leaving the hospital only a few hours, rather than days, later are increasingly becoming the standard of care in the United States. This Note argues that legislation mandating minimum inpatient postpartum hospital stays is presently the best possible solution to the overreaching control MCOs have over doctors, the standard of care, and the length of hospital stays based on their willingness to cover treatment. Part H of this Note reviews the development of postpartum care during the twentieth century. This section also discusses the reasoning for the concerns regarding the early discharge of newborns and their mothers. Part III discusses the federal and state laws and regulations mandating minimum hospital stays. Part IV examines the available anecdotal and statistical evidence concerning the negative effects of early discharge on newborns and their mothers. Part V addresses the arguments for and against the legislation and proposes possible improvements. Part VI analyses whether and why legislation is the best solution to the current problem.
Recommended Citation
Note, Drive-Through Deliveries: Indiscriminate Postpartum Early Discharge Practices Presently Necessitate Legislation Mandating Minimum Inpatient Hospital Stays, 44 Clev. St. L. Rev. 231 (1996)