Moore, Shaheen, Baldwin, McBath, and Dingell Reintroduce Legislation to Support Pregnant and Postpartum Mothers

Moore, Shaheen, Baldwin, McBath, and Dingell Reintroduce Legislation to Support Pregnant and Postpartum Mothers

Today, Representative Gwen Moore (WI-04), alongside Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Reps. Lucy McBath (GA-06), and Debbie Dingell (MI-06), reintroduced the Mental Health and Making Access More Affordable (MAMA) Act, H.R. 7227, legislation to make mental health and substance use disorder services for pregnant and postpartum women more affordable. The bill builds on urgent national efforts to confront the maternal health crisis by ensuring that private and public health care plans that cover mental health care and substance use treatment provide that care without a copay.

"Maternal mental health conditions - including depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders - are among the most common complications of pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period affecting hundreds of thousands of families every year. Yet cost remains one of the biggest barriers to treatment, particularly for low-income individuals and people of color," said Rep. Moore. "The Mental Health and MAMA Act will help break down those barriers, so that mothers, parents, and caregivers can get the support they need, when they need it most."

"In recent years, we've seen that pregnant women and new moms across the country face an escalating and deeply worrying mental health crisis. At the federal level, there's much more we can do to make sure that expectant and new mothers have the resources and support services they need as they navigate life with a newborn," said Senator Shaheen. "I'm proud to be introducing this bicameral bill alongside a group of my colleagues who understand the urgent need for more women to access a full range of mental health and substance use disorder services so that they-and their families-can thrive."

"We know pregnancy and postpartum can be extremely difficult, but too many expecting and new mothers still do not have access to the mental health care and support for addiction they need during these critical months," said Senator Baldwin. "I'm proud to support this commonsense legislation which will unlock sometimes lifesaving mental health and addiction care for millions of Americans, so mothers and babies are set up for success."

"Like so many in America, I struggled to get pregnant and with the challenges that came along with multiple miscarriages," said Rep. McBath. "Protecting the mental health of the mother is one of the most important factors during pregnancy and postpartum. It is imperative that we help parents access the care they need to support their wellbeing so they may help their children thrive. I thank my colleagues for their continued support of this issue and for their work to keep our families healthy."

"One of the highest risk times for a women's health and the health of her child is during pregnancy and the year after. If a woman is experiencing issued impacting her mental and emotional well-being, she should be able to get the care she needs. This legislation removes barriers and expands access to critical mental health and substance use disorder services for pregnant and postpartum women," said Rep. Dingell.

The Mental Health and MAMA Act would:

•Require commercial, Federal Employee Health Benefits, and state/local government health plans that provide mental health or substance use disorder services to cover those services with no cost-sharing from the onset of regular pregnancy care through one year postpartum.

•Extend continuity of care protections to ensure that individuals do not lose coverage or access to providers when plan networks change during pregnancy or the postpartum period.

Endorsing organizations: National Partnership for Women & Families, MomsRising, The Association of Maternal & Child Health Program, Shades of You, Shades of Me, African American Breast Feeding Network

Meta House, Dartmouth Health, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Black Child Development Institute, Institute for Women's Policy Research, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women's Reproductive Justice Agenda, ZERO TO THREE, Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, and NHeLP.