An Act increasing access to maternal postpartum home visiting services

This bill expands access to postpartum home visiting services for new parents and their newborns in Massachusetts by requiring health insurance plans to cover these visits without deductibles or co-pays. The legislation directs the Department of Public Health to create a statewide system that offers evidence-based support, including health screenings, nutritional guidance, and referrals to community resources, within eight weeks after birth. Providers must check if patients have other insurance coverage first, but the state acts as a payer of last resort to ensure services are available regardless of income or family size. Additionally, the law mandates that these programs report data to the department to monitor effectiveness and reduce health disparities among different populations.