Whereas, this legislation affects all certificates of insurance executed, delivered, continued or renewed after July 1, 2003; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

PART A

Sec. A-1. 24 MRSA §2318, sub-§6 is enacted to read:

6.__Application to certificates.__In addition to policies and contracts otherwise covered under this section, the requirements of this section apply to all certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State after July 1, 2003.

Sec. A-2. 24 MRSA §2318-A, as amended by PL 2001, c. 258, Pt. A, §1, is further amended to read:

§2318-A. Maternity and routine newborn care

A nonprofit hospital or medical service organization that issues individual and group contracts providing maternity benefits, including benefits for childbirth, shall provide coverage for services related to maternity and routine newborn care, including coverage for hospital stay, in accordance with the attending physician's or attending certified nurse midwife's determination in conjunction with the mother that the mother and newborn meet the criteria outlined in the "Guidelines for Perinatal Care," published by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. For the purposes of this section, "routine newborn care" does not include any services provided after the mother has been discharged from the hospital. For the purposes of this section, "attending physician" includes the obstetrician, pediatrician or other physician attending the mother and newborn. Benefits for routine newborn care required by this section are part of the mother's benefit. The mother and the newborn are treated as one person in calculating the deductible, coinsurance and copayments for coverage required by this section. In addition to policies and