SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2201        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 708

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Rebecca L. Rausch

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act enhancing post-pregnancy mental health care.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2201        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 708

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act enhancing post-pregnancy mental health care.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 17C of chapter 32A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition and as amended by chapter 127 of the acts of 2022, is hereby amended by inserting after the words “postpartum care,” the following words:- “including post-pregnancy mental health care,”.

SECTION 2. Said section 17C of said chapter 32A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following sentences:-

Coverage for post-pregnancy mental health care, including without limitation postpartum mental health care and post-miscarriage mental health care, provided under this section shall not be subject to any deductible, coinsurance, copayment or any other cost-sharing requirement. Coverage offered under this section shall not impose unreasonable restrictions or delays in the coverage. Benefits for an enrollee under this section shall be the same for the enrollee’s covered spouse and covered dependents. The commission shall ensure plan compliance with this chapter.

SECTION 3. Section 10A of chapter 118E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition and as amended by chapter 127 of the acts of 2022, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 2, after the words “postpartum care” the following words:- , including post-pregnancy mental health care.

SECTION 4. Said section 10A of said chapter 118E, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following sentences:-

Benefits for an enrollee under this section shall be the same for the enrollee’s covered spouse and covered dependents.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to deny or restrict the division’s authority to ensure its contracted health insurers, health plans, health maintenance organizations, behavioral health management firms and third-party administrators under contract to a Medicaid managed care organization or primary care clinician plan are in compliance with this chapter.

SECTION 5. Section 10E of said chapter 118E, as so appearing, is hereby amended and by inserting after the words “gynecological care” in lines 20-21, the following words:- “, including post-pregnancy mental health care”.

SECTION 6. Section 47F of chapter 175 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition and as amended by chapter 127 of the acts of 2022, is hereby amended, in line 21, by inserting after the words “post partum care” the following words:- , including post-pregnancy mental health care.

SECTION 7. Said section 47F of said chapter 175, as so appearing, is hereby further amended in the first sentence by inserting after the word “care” the following words:- or post-pregnancy mental health care.

SECTION 8. Section 8H of chapter 176A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition and as amended by chapter 127 of the acts of 2022, is hereby amended, in lines 7-8, by inserting after the words “post partum care” the following words:- , including post-pregnancy mental health care.

SECTION 9. Said section 8H of said chapter 176A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting in the first sentence of the fourth paragraph by inserting after the word “care” the following words:- or post-pregnancy mental health care.

SECTION 10. Section 4H of chapter 176B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition and as amended by chapter 127 of the acts of 2022, is hereby amended, in line 8, by inserting after the words “post partum care” the following words:- , including post-pregnancy mental health care.

SECTION 11. Said section 4H of said chapter 176B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended in the first sentence of the fourth paragraph by inserting after the word “care” the following words:- or post-pregnancy mental health care.

SECTION 12. Section 4I of chapter 176G of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition and as amended by chapter 127 of the acts of 2022, is hereby amended in line 2 by inserting after the words “postpartum care” the following words:- , including post-pregnancy mental health care.

SECTION 13. Said section 4I of said chapter 176G, as so appearing, is hereby further amended in the first sentence of the third paragraph by inserting after the word “care” the following words:- or post-pregnancy mental health care.

SECTION 14. This act shall take effect 6 months after its passage.