Hospitals must screen and stabilize emergency pregnancy conditions

Hospitals must screen emergency department patients to find emergency pregnancy-related medical conditions. This applies to patients presenting at a hospital emergency department. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

A hospital must provide further examination and treatment to stabilize the condition, or transfer the patient to another medical facility. This applies only at hospitals with emergency departments. The condition must cause acute symptoms in a pregnant patient, and without immediate care could seriously endanger the patient's health or seriously impair bodily functions or an organ. The hospital must use the staff and facilities available to it. A hospital meets these requirements if the patient or representative refuses examination and treatment or transfer after being offered those choices and told their risks and benefits. The hospital must take reasonable steps to get written consent to the refusal. An unstabilized patient may be transferred only in line with federal law. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

A hospital must allow a pregnancy to be ended when the treating practitioner determines it is medically necessary to stabilize the patient. This applies to a patient with an emergency pregnancy-related condition being treated at a hospital. The treating practitioner's determination must be that ending the pregnancy is medically necessary to stabilize the patient. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

A hospital may not take adverse action against a provider for refusing to authorize transfer of an unstabilized patient, or against an employee for reporting a violation. The protections cover treating health care providers and hospital employees. A provider is also protected for treatment that follows the care standards the provider's clinical judgment finds necessary to stabilize the patient. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.