By Marisa Fernandez
July 6, 2021
![Illustration of a stork holding a very long receipt.](https://images.axios.com/5GUyTKUcuO9Q6eh9_ip6EunkxDM=/0x0:1920x1080/1920x1080/2021/07/05/1625444203521.jpg)
Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
Nearly one in five newborn hospitalizations or childbirth deliveries have at least one surprise medical bill, especially if cesarean delivery or neonatal intensive care services are provided, according to a JAMA brief out Friday.
Why it matters: Childbirth hospitalizations — which often out-of-network — are the most frequent sources of surprise bills in the U.S. and new federal protections addressing this issue could benefit many families, the analysis said.