SB191 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Vivian Davis FiguresSenator

Democrat

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Post-partum depression; to require Medicaid coverage and provide for education and screening .

Summary

The bill would require Medicaid to cover postpartum depression screening, restrict step therapy for related medications, require educational materials, and mandate provider assessments of birth mothers for postpartum depression during postnatal or pediatric care.

What This Bill Does

It requires the Alabama Medicaid Agency to cover postpartum depression screening for eligible women with emphasis on evidence-based guidelines and adequate provider reimbursement. It also prohibits step therapy protocols for FDA-approved postpartum depression drugs in Medicaid patients. Additionally, it tasks the Department of Public Health with creating and distributing educational materials about postpartum depression, and it requires doctors to assess birth mothers for postpartum depression during postnatal or pediatric care, with hospitals distributing the materials to families at discharge and providing liability protections for sharing the information.

Who It Affects

• Medicaid-enrolled women who are pregnant or have recently given birth, who would receive coverage for postpartum depression screening and access to approved treatments without step-therapy barriers.
• Health care providers, hospitals, and public health agencies responsible for performing screenings and assessments, distributing educational materials to patients and families, and exercising professional judgment in treatment recommendations (with liability protections for providing information).

Key Provisions

• Adds Section 22-6-15: Medicaid must cover postpartum depression screening, following evidence-based guidelines, ensure broad access, and provide adequate reimbursement to providers.
• Adds Section 22-6-125: Prohibits step therapy protocols for prescription drugs approved by the FDA for treating postpartum depression in Medicaid patients.
• Adds Section 22-20-3.3: Department of Public Health shall develop written educational materials about maternal mental health, especially postpartum depression, including symptoms, coping methods, treatment options, and resources; materials must be posted online, available in print, and hospitals must provide them to parents at discharge; liability protections apply for providing this information.
• Adds Section 22-20-3.4: Physicians and other licensed professionals must assess birth mothers for postpartum depression during postnatal or pediatric care; must use professional judgment in treatment recommendations; does not establish a standard of care or modify medical liability laws.
• Effective date: This act becomes effective October 1, 2025.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health