Preterm Birth Amendments

HB 458 requires hospitals and birthing facilities to create and publish clear policies about caring for premature infants, including their specific capabilities for different gestational ages. It mandates that prenatal providers discuss preterm birth risks, care options, and facility capabilities with patients around 20 weeks of pregnancy, and ensures parents can request transfers or neonatology consultations before birth. The bill prohibits denying lifesaving care to infants based solely on gestational age and requires annual reporting to the health department on preterm birth outcomes, including survival rates. These changes directly affect birthing facilities, prenatal providers, and parents expecting preterm births in Utah, aiming to improve transparency and care coordination.