The additional day in the hospital offered by a institution even if the
insurance does not reimburse is probably the hospital's attempt to increase or
maintain market share.  Other institutiions in the area may be offering a free
home visit following 24 hour D/C.  The additional day would be a response to
that.  The extended day for a low-cost that could be paid by the patient or for
no-cost is not unusual in today' market.  While the hospital appears to care for
the patient, and in reality, may care, the bottom line is that there is customer
awareness of potential problems when mothers are sent home early without
adequate support--the hospital must meet these concerns if it is to maintain
customer base.

Pardee Hinson, MPH, IBCLC
who loves working in the dynamic, crazy field of hospital care