Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S823 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 02/27/2025

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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2122       FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 823
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Rebecca L. Rausch
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act enhancing post-pregnancy mental health care.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Rebecca L. RauschNorfolk, Worcester and MiddlesexPatricia D. JehlenSecond Middlesex3/6/2025 1 of 4
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2122       FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 823
By Ms. Rausch, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 823) of Rebecca L. Rausch and 
Patricia D. Jehlen for legislation to enhance post-pregnancy mental health care. Financial 
Services.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 708 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act enhancing post-pregnancy mental health care.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority 
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 17C of chapter 32A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 5, after the words “postpartum care” the 
3following words:- , including post-pregnancy mental health care. 
4 SECTION 2. Said section 17C of said chapter 32A, as so appearing, is hereby further 
5amended by adding the following sentences:-  
6 Coverage for post-pregnancy mental health care, including but not limited to postpartum 
7mental health care and post-miscarriage mental health care, provided under this section shall not 
8be subject to any deductible, coinsurance, copayment or any other cost-sharing requirement. 
9Coverage offered under this section shall not impose unreasonable restrictions or delays in the  2 of 4
10coverage. Benefits for an enrollee under this section shall be the same for the enrollee’s covered 
11spouse and covered dependents. The commission shall ensure plan compliance with this chapter. 
12 SECTION 3. Section 10A of chapter 118E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 
13Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 3, after the words “postpartum care” the 
14following words:- , including post-pregnancy mental health care. 
15 SECTION 4. Said section 10A of said chapter 118E, as so appearing, is hereby further 
16amended by adding the following sentences:-  
17 Benefits for an enrollee under this section shall be the same for the enrollee’s covered 
18spouse and covered dependents. 
19 Nothing in this section shall be construed to deny or restrict the division’s authority to 
20ensure its contracted health insurers, health plans, health maintenance organizations, behavioral 
21health management firms and third-party administrators under contract to a Medicaid managed 
22care organization or primary care clinician plan are in compliance with this chapter. 
23 SECTION 5. Section 10E of said chapter 118E, as so appearing, is hereby amended and 
24by inserting after the words “gynecological care” in lines 20-21, the following words:- , 
25including post-pregnancy mental health care. 
26 SECTION 6. Section 10S of said chapter 118E, as so appearing and as amended by 
27chapter 186 of the acts of 2024, is hereby amended and by inserting before the words “post 
28partum” in line 702, the following words:- post-pregnancy or.  3 of 4
29 SECTION 7. Section 47F of said chapter 175 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 
302022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 22, after the words “post partum 
31care” the following words:- , including post-pregnancy mental health care,. 
32 SECTION 8. Said section 47F of said chapter 175, as so appearing, is hereby further 
33amended by inserting, in line 46, after the word “care” the following words:- or post-pregnancy 
34mental health care. 
35 SECTION 9. Section 47WW of chapter 175 of the General Laws, as inserted by chapter 
36186 of the acts of 2024, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “for” the following 
37words:- post pregnancy, or. 
38 SECTION 10. Section 8H of chapter 176A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 
39Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 10, after the word “care” the following 
40words:- , including post-pregnancy mental health care. 
41 SECTION 11. Said section 8H of said chapter 176A, as so appearing, is hereby further 
42amended by inserting, line 33, after the word “care” the following words:- or post-pregnancy 
43mental health care. 
44 SECTION 12. Section 8XX of chapter 176A of the General Laws, as inserted by chapter 
45186 of the acts of 2024, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “for” the following 
46words:- post pregnancy or. 
47 SECTION 13. Section 4H of chapter 176B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 
48Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 9, after the word “care” the following 
49words:- , including post-pregnancy mental health care.  4 of 4
50 SECTION 14. Said section 4H of said chapter 176B, as so appearing, is hereby further 
51amended by inserting, in line 32, after the word “care” the following words:- or post-pregnancy 
52mental health care. 
53 SECTION 15. Section 4XX of said chapter of 176B, as inserted by chapter 186 of the 
54acts of 2024, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “for” the following words:- “post 
55pregnancy or”. 
56 SECTION 16. Section 4I of chapter 176G of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 
57Official Edition, is hereby amended in line 3 by inserting after the words “postpartum care” the 
58following words:- , including post-pregnancy mental health care. 
59 SECTION 17. Said section 4I of said chapter 176G, as so appearing, is hereby further 
60amended by inserting, in line 27, after the word “care” the following words:- or post-pregnancy 
61mental health care. 
62 SECTION 18. Section 4PP of said chapter of 176G, as inserted by chapter 186 of the acts 
63of 2024, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “for” the following words:- post 
64pregnancy or. 
65 SECTION 19. This act shall take effect 6 months after its passage.