Caring for Grieving Families Act of 2025
Summary
The "Caring for Grieving Families Act of 2025" aims to amend the Public Health Service Act to limit cost-sharing for prenatal services in cases of miscarriage or stillbirth. Specifically, it addresses situations where a bundled payment for prenatal services and childbirth is anticipated but not fully realized due to pregnancy loss.
Under this act, health plans would be restricted from imposing cost-sharing requirements for prenatal services that exceed what would have been applied had the miscarriage or stillbirth not occurred. The amendment applies to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2027.
The bill seeks to alleviate the financial burden on families experiencing pregnancy loss by ensuring they are not unduly penalized for prenatal services rendered before the loss.
Expected Effects
This act will likely reduce the financial burden on families who experience a miscarriage or stillbirth. It ensures that health insurance plans do not impose excessive cost-sharing for prenatal services in these unfortunate circumstances.
By limiting cost-sharing, the act aims to provide financial relief and support to grieving families during a difficult time. The change will be implemented starting in 2027.
Potential Benefits
- Reduces financial strain on families experiencing pregnancy loss.
- Ensures fair cost-sharing for prenatal services.
- Provides financial relief during a difficult emotional period.
- Promotes access to necessary prenatal care without fear of excessive costs in case of loss.
- Potentially improves the mental health of grieving families by reducing financial worries.
Potential Disadvantages
- May slightly increase premiums for all health plan members to offset the reduced cost-sharing for affected families.
- Potential administrative burden for health plans to track and adjust cost-sharing in cases of miscarriage or stillbirth.
- The delayed effective date (January 1, 2027) means families will not immediately benefit from this change.
- The impact may be limited to those with bundled payment plans, potentially excluding others.
- Possible complexity in determining what constitutes "prenatal services" under the bundled payment agreement.
Constitutional Alignment
This bill appears to align with the general welfare clause of the US Constitution, as it aims to promote the well-being of families experiencing pregnancy loss. While healthcare is not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution, the government's role in promoting public health and welfare is a long-standing interpretation.
Specifically, the bill does not infringe upon any specific rights enumerated in the Constitution or its amendments. It falls under the legislative powers granted to Congress under Article I, Section 8, which allows them to enact laws necessary and proper for carrying out their enumerated powers.
There is no apparent conflict with any constitutional principles.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).