Infant Protection and Baby Switching Prevention Act of 2023 This bill establishes additional requirements that certain hospitals must meet in order to participate in Medicare. Specifically, as a condition of Medicare participation, hospitals and critical access hospitals that provide neonatal or infant care must have appropriate security procedures to reduce the likelihood of infant patient abduction and baby switching. Noncompliant hospitals are subject to specified civil penalties. The bill also establishes criminal penalties for knowingly altering or destroying a newborn's hospital patient records for the purpose of causing the newborn to be misidentified.
The bill's enactment would have significant implications for hospitals participating in the Medicare program. It imposes strict requirements on hospitals and critical access hospitals to comply with security measures as a condition for receiving Medicare reimbursements. Noncompliant hospitals may face civil penalties, which could reach up to $50,000 for each violation, thereby incentivizing adherence to the established protocols aimed at safeguarding vulnerable patients.
House Bill 282, titled the 'Infant Protection and Baby Switching Prevention Act of 2023', aims to enhance security procedures in hospitals that provide neonatal and infant care to mitigate the risks of infant abduction and baby switching. Under this bill, hospitals must establish and implement security protocols that meet standards set by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. These protocols include means for identifying all infant patients, ensuring that hospitals can promptly detect if any infants are missing.
One point of contention surrounding HB282 is the balance between ensuring safety and the potential administrative burden it places on hospitals, particularly smaller ones. Critics may argue that the financial implications of implementing such stringent security measures could affect the accessibility and affordability of neonatal services, particularly in rural areas where resources are limited. Conversely, supporters emphasize that the safety of infants should be paramount, advocating that the bill is a necessary response to address past incidents of baby switching and abduction, highlighting its necessity in contemporary healthcare settings.