A Practice Note addressing the Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act of 1996 (NMHPA), a federal law that applies to group health plans and health insurers that offer maternity coverage. The NMHPA imposes standards for hospital lengths of stay following childbirth, unless the mother and her physician (or other health provider) determine otherwise. The NMHPA also prohibits incentives that would encourage a mother to shorten her hospital stay and prohibits incentives to physicians and other health providers to encourage shorter hospital stays.