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BOSTON (AP) — A comprehensive maternal health bill has passed each houses of the House and awaits Gov. Maura Healey's signature.
The bill would supply a path for midwives and lactation consultants to acquire licenses, encourage the creation of more freestanding birth centers and establish a grant program to deal with maternal mental health and substance use disorders.
The bill would also expand the nationwide, universal postpartum home visiting program and require insurers to cover the associated fee of screenings for postpartum depression and major depressive disorder in perinatal individuals.
“This maternal health law will save lives for all birthing families in Massachusetts,” said Democratic Rep. Marjorie Decker, certainly one of the bill’s sponsors.
“I am so proud that we continue to lead the nation in protecting reproductive health and respecting birth autonomy by providing more birthing options, expanding equitable access to midwifery care and postnatal support, and providing better insurance coverage for perinatal individuals,” she added.
The bill would create a state license that certified midwives must obtain to practice midwifery and would require certain insurance providers, comparable to MassHealth, to cover the services of doulas and midwives, including prenatal, birth and postpartum care.
The bill would also create a Board of Registration in Midwifery throughout the Ministry of Health to be chargeable for the licensing and supervision of state-certified midwives.
State-certified midwives would should coordinate emergency care if mandatory and would even be allowed to issue prescriptions for certain medications in accordance with regulations to be issued by the Board and DPH.
To encourage the creation of more freestanding birth centers operated independently of the hospital system, the bill would require the DPH to develop updated regulations for licensing freestanding birth centers to make sure secure and accessible birthing options.
The bill would also require state health departments to conduct an education campaign about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and develop a digital information center for the general public. It would also require that perinatal individuals be offered screening for postpartum depression and major depressive disorder and that these services be covered by medical insurance.
To higher address barriers to access to health care and reduce racial disparities in maternal health, the bill would also expand the universal postpartum home visiting program administered by state health departments and supply reimbursement for this system's services.
A 2023 report from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health showed that maternal mortality within the state nearly doubled from 2011 to 2020. Black women were 2.3 times more likely than white women to have complications during labor and delivery.
The bill also requires health insurers to cover the associated fee of medically mandatory pasteurized donated breast milk and products produced from it, as they’re a crucial source of nutrients for the expansion and development of babies, especially at-risk premature babies.
When asked on Friday, Healey signaled his support for the bill.
“Of course I will sign it,” said Healey.
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