Washington, D.C. — Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), representing the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos, introduced the Neonatal Care Transparency Act on Thursday. This legislation requires hospitals to disclose the gestational age at which they will attempt to provide lifesaving care to premature babies. Under current law, hospitals are not required to disclose the gestational age at which neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are prepared to provide lifesaving care. Reporting has shown that this can lead to confusion among pregnant mothers and a potential absence of medical intervention for the 8,000 babies born each year at a gestational age of 22-24 weeks.

This bill is the House companion to S.2433 — the Neonatal Care Transparency Act of 2025 — which was authored by Sen. Tom Cotton.

“Medical science has managed to achieve miraculous progress in the fight to save premature infants, but not all hospitals are prepared to provide potentially lifesaving treatments,” said Congressman Ryan Mackenzie. “America’s pregnant mothers deserve to know which providers in their community are equipped to provide emergency care for babies in these situations. That’s why this bill establishes commonsense guidelines requiring hospitals to disclose the gestational age at which they will attempt to provide lifesaving care — giving confidence to mothers and a chance at life for countless premature infants.”

“When faced with an early birth, parents should be able to ensure that the delivery hospital is equipped and prepared to provide care for their child. This bill will provide parents with the information needed to welcome their child into the world safely,” said Sen. Tom Cotton (AR).

“Parents deserve to know, before arriving at a hospital, whether a facility is prepared to care for their premature baby.  The Neonatal Care Transparency Act simply ensures parents are given the information they need to make a truly informed choice,” said Robin Pierucci, MD, MA, board-certified pediatrician, neonatologist and Board Member of the American College of Pediatricians.

Bill text is available HERE.

Information provided to TVL by:
Arnaud Armstrong