Protecting the young and helpless is a moral obligation that should be met by providing the needed healthcare

It is a shame that these infants have to suffer and, yes, they should receive treatment. But this does not solve the main problem. We really need to find a resolution to the drug & opioid epidemic.

Yes. What the hell did they do wrong? Could you actually be so cruel as to cut off care and treatment because the mother was addicted?

Seriously???? It's a BABY!!! if you don't support choice then you better be supporting the baby that was born because you don't.

The Crib Act represents the need for caring for children who come into this world challenged. As a grandparent of a special needs child I know how important legislation like this is for our society and humanity.

Yes! This has always been covered. Nothing to debate. If babies qualify for Medicaid they qualify for treatment period. It's so funny some people seeing laws for the first time think it's new. This is a TREATMENT FOR A CONDITION that a baby is born with like a heart defect or anything else. Sorry to break it to you that meidicaid has ALWAYS paid for this if the patient qualifies for the insurance. Such a shame some of you would rather a baby scream 24/7 in withdrawal agony for days than care for the child you didn't want anyone to abort.

This should not even be a question. They are innocent human beings who need treatment to live.

So, we're debating torturing innocent newborns to make a point? What is that point?

Infants born addicted to any type of drug should be medically helped under Medicaid, Medicare and all health insurances. This alone, sadly, won't solve the problem. Drug addiction is a huge issue that needs to be seriously looked at and a plan of action must be set in motion to help prevent and cure it.

Providing critical care for our youngest and most helpless is the most humane thing we can do, regardless of the circumstances. While we are at it, perhaps rather than criminalizing drug users we should treat drug use as a *medical* crisis, allowing much-needed care to be offered to those who have become hooked on these dangerous substances. As long as drug use is so cruelly criminalized (mandatory minimums, really?) those that know they need help and those that want to provide help will be unable to without guaranteeing the total destruction of their lives even before the drugs do that for them. Thank you for you consideration.

Of course, YES. A newborn is an innocent victim. Healthcare should also cover other innocent victims, such as rape victims with no healthcare. (Update Sep 5,2017). I would like people to know that some babies are not born to addicts, but may still be addicted. My wife had spinal surgery prior to becoming pregnant. She asked to be taken off medications and provided something holistic. We saw three different specialists, including our obstetrician, whom all reviewed and agreed upon a pain plan for my wife and unborn child. Our daughter was born with a slight addiction even after titration off meds in third trimester. Our newborn was placed in NIC unit and we stayed in Ronald McDonald house for two weeks. My wife is not an abuser of medications and we did everything that was proposed by doctors. We even sought additional opinions. I had amazing health coverage for all of this. I could only hope that other families who suffer a similar experience, be covered by healthcare insurance. It is a scary, difficult and costly experience to go through. My daughter is doing well now, 4 years old and my wife is off all meds, but still lives in much debilitating pain.

These babies didn't ask to be born and require a very high level of care and there is absolutely no reason to punish infants for their parents actions

Caring for children if always right.

This is a no brained. But maybe you should watch one of these unfortunate, blameless babies as they shudder repeatedly, cry inconsolably and have trouble feeding. We use non-medication maneuvers such as swaddling but this is usually insufficient. Do you really think these babies deserve to suffer because of their mothers? May God have mercy on your soul if you answer "Yes".

The babies are innocent and deserve the best start possible.

Because I'm not an evil, selfish a**hole.

Of course since infants had no choice.