PUBLIC LAW 104-204—SEPT. 26, 1996 110 STAT. 2937 hospital lengths of stay in connection with childbirth for a mother or newborn child under the plan (or under health insurance coverage offered in connection with a group health plan), except that such coinsurance or other cost-sharing for any portion of a period within a hospital length of stay required under subsection (a) may not be greater than such coinsurance or cost-sharing for any preceding portion of such stay. "(d) NOTICE UNDER GROUP HEALTH PLAN.— The imposition of the requirements of this section shall be treated as a material modification in the terms of the plan described in section 102(a)(1), for purposes of assuring notice of such requirements under the plan; except that the summary description required to be provided under the last sentence of section 104(b)(1) with respect to such modification shall be provided by not later than 60 days after the first day of the first plan year in which such requirements apply. "(e) LEVEL AND TYPE OF REIMBURSEMENTS.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent a group health plan or a health insurance issuer offering group health insurance coverage from negotiating the level and type of reimbursement with a provider for care provided in accordance with this section. "(f) PREEMPTION; EXCEPTION FOR HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE IN CERTAIN STATES.— "(1) IN GENERAL.— The requirements of this section shall not apply with respect to health insurance coverage if there is a State law (as defined in section 731(d)(1)) for a State that regulates such coverage that is described in any of the following subparagraphs: "(A) Such State law requires such coverage to provide for at least a 48-hour hospital length of stay following a normal vaginal delivery and at least a 96-hour hospital length of stay following a cesarean section. "(B) Such State law requires such coverage to provide for maternity and pediatric care in accordance with guidelines established by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Pediatrics, or other established professional medical associations. "(C) Such State law requires, in connection with such coverage for maternity care, that the hospital length of stay for such care is left to the decision of (or required to be made by) the attending provider in consultation with the mother. "(2) CONSTRUCTION.—Section 731(a)(1) shall not be construed as superseding a State law described in paragraph (1).". (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— (1) Section 731(c) of such Act (as added by section 101 of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and redesignated by the preceding provisions of this section) is amended by striking "Nothing" and inserting "Except 29 USC 1191. as provided in section 711, nothing". (2) Section 732(a) of such Act (as added by section 101 of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and redesignated by the preceding provisions of this section) is amended by inserting "(other than section 711)" after 29 USC 1191a. "part". (3) Title I of such Act (as amended by section 101 of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
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