Closing Gaps in Maternal Mental Healthcare

The Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health is a national think tank, nonprofit organization advancing policies that support a health care system that routinely detects and treats maternal mental health disorders for every mother, every time.

TX Policy

H.B. 1 (2023): the General Appropriations Act, dedicates $3.5 million towards supporting maternal mortality and morbidity resources, including identifying or creating a risk assessment tool to identify pregnant women at a higher risk for poor postpartum outcomes and training providers on how to use the tool. The act allocates a portion of the funding to collect information on postpartum depression screening and treatment under state health programs annually.

H.R. 593 / S.R. 350 (2023): recognizes September 23, 2023, as Fourth Trimester Care Day in Texas. The measure acknowledges that the month after giving birth is a transition period where the parents need support and screening for their mental and physical well-being.

HB 253 (2018): Requires the health and human services commission to develop and implement a five-year strategic plan to improve access to postpartum depression screening, referral, treatment, and support services. The strategic plan must include: strategies to increase awareness among providers about the effects of postpartum depression on outcomes for women and children; establish a referral network of community-based mental health providers and support services; increase access to formal and informal peer support services; raise public awareness and reduce stigma related to postpartum depression; and leverage sources of funding to support community-based screening, referral, treatment, and support services.

The strategic plan was released in 2021. View here.

SB 750 (2019): Instructs the commission to develop and implement a postpartum depression treatment network for women enrolled in the state’s medical assistance program and the Healthy Texas Women program.

HB 2466 (2017): Required Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) pay for the screening if the child is covered, even if the mother is not. It is estimated that more than 200,000 Texas mothers will be eligible for the benefit each year.

TX Code § 161.501 (2005): Required hospitals, birthing centers, physicians, and nurse midwives to provide a resource pamphlet with information and resources for new parents, including information on organizations that provide postpartum counseling relating to postpartum depression and emotional trauma from pregnancy and parenting.