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Safely Surrendered Baby
Overview
The State of California has enacted a law intended to provide for the Health and Safety of unwanted newborn children. The Safely Surrendered Babies Law, formerly known as the Safe Arms for Newborns Law, allows for a mother or any adult to bring an unwanted baby three days old or younger to a hospital or fire station without prosecution for child abandonment.
The purpose of this programpurpose of this program is to ensure that health facilities that accept surrendered newborns are reimbursed for providing health care services until the baby is returned to a responsible relative/caretaker or is established in the Foster Care program.
Eligibility
This law applies to children under 72-hours old, who are voluntarily surrendered at a public or private hospital. MC eligibility will begin on the date physical custody is surrendered and ends on the last date of the month following the month in which the child was voluntarily surrendered.
Child surrendered April 15th, child is eligible April 15th through May 31st.
Exception: Eligibility may extend into the third month, based on the surrendered date of the child. If the child is surrendered on the last day of the month, there may be a need for the third month of coverage.
Under no circumstances will coverage under this category extend past the end of the third month.
The FC EW is responsible for processing the Surrendered Baby application for MC. Follow current county computer system for MC only new application procedures.
Refer to Safely Surrendered Baby Law Program for processing guidelines.
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