A new maternal health bill in Massachusetts is currently awaiting Governor Maura Healey’s approval after successfully passing through both legislative chambers. The bill aims to enhance maternal health care by facilitating licenses for midwives and lactation consultants, promoting the establishment of additional freestanding birth centers, and launching a grant program to address maternal mental health and substance use disorders.
The proposed legislation also seeks to broaden the access to postpartum support by extending the universal home visiting program statewide and obligating insurers to cover screenings for postpartum depression and major depressive disorder for perinatal individuals.
The creation of a state license for certified professional midwives is central to the bill, requiring them to adhere to regulations set by the newly formed Board of Registration in Midwifery under the Department of Public Health. Additionally, the bill mandates insurance coverage for doula and midwifery services, including prenatal, childbirth, and postpartum care.
To encourage the expansion of freestanding birth centers, separate from hospital systems, the legislation mandates updated regulations from the Department of Public Health to ensure safe and accessible birth options. Furthermore, public awareness campaigns on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are planned, along with the development of a digital resource center.
In an effort to tackle disparities in maternal health, the bill proposes an increase in the universal postpartum home visiting program and requires insurers to cover medically necessary pasteurized donor human milk and related products. Governor Healey has expressed her support for the bill and affirmed her intention to sign it once it reaches her desk.
