The bill, titled "The New Hampshire Momnibus 2.0," seeks to improve maternal health and wellness through several key provisions. It mandates maternal depression screenings for new mothers during well-child visits under the state Medicaid program, with health care providers recommended to conduct these screenings. Additionally, health insurance carriers are required to cover maternal depression screenings for both prenatal and postpartum patients, as well as for mothers during their child's early well-child visits. The bill allocates $275,000 for establishing a perinatal psychiatric provider consult line and $75,000 for rural maternal health EMS services for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2026, and 2027. New legal language is inserted to include provisions for maternal mental health screening, coverage for perinatal home visiting services, and the establishment of a consult line, while no deletions from current law are specified.

Moreover, the bill introduces new provisions under RSA 275, specifically section 275:37-f, which requires employers with 20 or more employees to allow up to 25 hours of unpaid leave for employees to attend medical appointments related to childbirth, postpartum care, or their child's pediatric appointments within the first year of the child's birth or adoption. It also amends RSA 417-D to ensure health carriers provide coverage for maternal depression screenings during prenatal and postpartum periods, as well as for caregivers during their child's well-child visits. The Department of Health and Human Services is directed to study barriers to independent birth centers and develop a perinatal peer support certification program, with a report due by November 1, 2026. The effective dates for the bill's provisions are set for January 1, 2026, for specific sections, while the remainder will take effect on July 1, 2025. Overall, the bill aims to enhance access to healthcare services for new parents and bolster support for maternal mental health.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 275:37-d