Health insurance and Medicaid; require coverage for postpartum depression screenings.

HB 1578 requires health insurers to cover postpartum depression screenings for new mothers and prohibits step therapy protocols for FDA-approved treatments. It mandates that healthcare providers screen all postnatal patients for depression using standard guidelines and refer those needing care to appropriate treatments. Insurers must reimburse providers adequately for these screenings, ensuring access without cost barriers. The bill also updates Medicaid coverage rules to align with these requirements, directly affecting mothers, healthcare providers, and insurance companies in Mississippi.