SPRINGFIELD – A measure led by State Senator Laura Fine that would provide coverage to vital emergency neonatal intensive care is one step closer to becoming law.

“Within the critical first hours of life, no parent should have to decide between ensuring their child receives life-saving care or avoiding hefty out-of-pocket costs,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “Parents want protect their children at every stage of life. This measure gives parents the ability to do that.”

To treat premature or critically ill newborns, neonatal care is often necessary and may require specialized treatments that might not be covered by a patient’s health insurance network. House Bill 2464 would address the importance of immediate care by requiring private insurers to cover emergency neonatal care, regardless of whether the provider is in or out of the patient’s network. This ensures families are not billed for greater out-of-pocket costs than they would have incurred with a participating provider.

“Having a newborn is an exciting and life-changing experience for all parents, and whether it’s their first child or not, having the resources in place to ease that process is crucial,” said Fine. “Newborns cannot fight for themselves – this measure gives parents the tools to fight for their children.”

House Bill 2464 passed the Senate on Wednesday.