Starting this month, Colorado’s FAMLI program now provides 12 weeks of paid leave to parents whose newborns need neonatal intensive care. This expansion — introduced under Senate Bill 25-144 — is in addition to the existing 12 weeks of PFML benefits under the Colorado FAMLI program, as well as the additional 4 weeks available for birthing parents who experience complications during pregnancy or childbirth, bringing the total potential leave to up to 28 weeks for eligible parents. In other words, the Neonatal Care Leave benefit allows parents to save their bonding leave for those precious moments when their baby gets released from the hospital.
Normally, very premature babies born between 24 to 25 weeks of gestational age spend an average of over 100 days in the NICU, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Data from National Vital Statistics showed a national increase in the percentage of infants treated in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) up 8.7% to 9.8% between 2016 and 2023.
A separate study also found that Colorado mothers living at high altitude experience an increased rate of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy as well as higher blood pressure leading to higher rates of NICU admissions.
By creating a new paid leave category, called Neonatal Care Leave, Colorado became the first state to add a NICU benefit providing real, tangible support to parents who need to be fully present for their child’s medical care, without the added pressure of lost wages or job insecurity.
Governor Jared Polis said that “Having a newborn in the NICU is incredibly challenging, and during this time parents should not have to think about whether they can take the time off of work to care for their little one.”
Recent projections from state fiscal analysts, say that the NICU benefit change will save Colorado workers and employers roughly $35 million over the next fiscal year.
Nonprofits and certain providers are helping the state by educating local Colorado businesses who have questions about the new NICU benefit. Hopefully more states will add this important add on to their existing Paid Family and Medical Leave programs.
