SB 2874 Mississippi Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Postpartum depression; create new laws and revise existing provisions related to.

SB 2874 requires healthcare providers to screen birth mothers for depression within six weeks of childbirth and mandates that health insurance companies cover this screening with no deductibles or copays. The bill prohibits insurers from requiring "step therapy" (multiple treatment steps before approving FDA-approved depression medications) for postpartum depression treatment and directs the state health department to create educational materials about maternal mental health for providers and new parents. It directly affects birth mothers, healthcare facilities, and insurance companies by establishing new screening requirements and coverage standards. The bill also specifies that hospitals must provide mental health resources to new parents and those showing signs of maternal mental health disorders. (Note: The bill died in committee on March 4, 2025, per recent actions.)

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 13, 2025 Last action Mar 4, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Committee Substitute → Current version · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill title was updated from 'Committee Substitute' to 'As Passed the Senate', indicating the bill has moved forward in the legislative process. This change reflects the bill's progression through the Senate committee stage to its final Senate version, without altering the substantive policy content regarding mandatory depression screening for birthing mothers.

Scope change

No substantive scope or applicability changes; only procedural status update.

TECHNICAL

Updated bill designation from 'Committee Substitute' to 'As Passed the Senate' to reflect legislative progress.

As Introduced → Committee Substitute · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to expand its focus from general depression screening to specifically targeting postpartum depression screening for birth mothers. The committee substitute adds new definitions for 'birth mother' and 'depression,' creates new sections requiring healthcare providers to screen for postpartum depression within six weeks of birth, and mandates health insurers to cover this screening without step therapy restrictions. It also adds provisions for educational materials about maternal mental health and prohibits step therapy protocols for FDA-approved postpartum depression treatments.

Scope change

The bill's scope was significantly expanded from general depression screening to specifically address postpartum depression, adding new definitions and requirements focused on maternal mental health conditions.

DEFINITION

Added specific definitions for 'birth mother' (biological mother of a child) and 'depression' (mood disorder causing persistent sadness and loss of interest) to clarify the bill's focus on postpartum depression.

REQUIREMENT

Added new requirements for healthcare professionals to screen birth mothers for postpartum depression within six weeks of birth and to provide appropriate referrals if depression is suspected.

Added new requirements for hospitals providing birth services to distribute written educational materials about maternal mental health conditions to new parents and family members upon discharge.

Added new requirements for health insurance issuers to cover postpartum depression screening without deductibles or copayments, effective January 1, 2026.

Added new provisions prohibiting step therapy protocols for drugs approved by the FDA for treating postpartum depression, both for private insurers and Medicaid.

Added new requirements for the State Department of Health to develop and distribute educational materials about maternal mental health conditions to healthcare professionals and patients.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date for postpartum depression screening coverage from July 1, 2025 to January 1, 2026, while maintaining July 1, 2025 as the effective date for the overall act.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 5, 2025

How they voted

51–0

Passed

Total votes 51

Feb 5, 2025

D Democratic16

16 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican35

35 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 17, 2025

Committee

Referred To Public Health and Human Services;Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Introduced

Transmitted To House

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub

upper

Jan 20, 2025

Committee

Referred To Medicaid

upper

0 primary · 4 co-sponsors