State Policy · MA
Massachusetts Proposes $2M to Expand Postpartum Mental Health Services Under Medicaid
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey is requesting $2 million from the state legislature to expand the Welcome Family program, which provides free home nurse visits for postpartum mental health screening to new mothers. The expansion would increase coverage from 3,000 to 68,000 households annually. Several other states enacted similar legislation this year: Illinois mandated at-home mental health screenings for all new mothers, while Maryland and Virginia required Medicaid and other insurers to cover postpartum depression screenings. The Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health expects a 200% increase in state legislative activity on maternal mental health in the coming year.
Why it mattersStates expanding Medicaid coverage requirements for postpartum mental health screenings and home visits will affect managed care organization benefit design, provider network adequacy for maternal mental health services, and capitation rate negotiations.