Hospitals must stabilize or transfer patients with pregnancy emergencies

A hospital must provide further examination and treatment to stabilize the patient, or transfer the patient to another medical facility. These rules apply only to hospitals with emergency departments. The condition must involve acute symptoms during pregnancy that could seriously endanger the patient's health, impair bodily functions, or seriously disrupt an organ or body part without immediate care. A hospital must allow pregnancy termination when the treating practitioner finds it medically necessary to stabilize the patient. The hospital meets these requirements if the patient or representative refuses further examination and treatment or refuses transfer after hearing the risks and benefits. The hospital must take reasonable steps to get written consent to the refusal. The law took effect October 1, 2026.

A hospital may not transfer an unstabilized patient unless the transfer follows federal emergency-care law, and may not take adverse action against specified providers or employees. The transfer rule applies to a patient whose emergency pregnancy-related condition has not been stabilized. The protections apply to the specified treating providers and hospital employees. The protections cover a provider who refuses to authorize transfer of an unstabilized patient, a provider whose care follows the medical standards the provider judged necessary to stabilize the patient, and an employee who reports a violation. Adverse actions include those involving discharge, promotion, demotion, suspension, compensation, training, or hospital privileges. The law took effect October 1, 2026.