The bill, "The New Hampshire Momnibus 2.0," seeks to improve maternal health and wellness through several significant 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 these screenings for pregnant and postpartum patients, including periodic screenings at designated well-child visits. The bill also allocates funds for establishing a perinatal psychiatric provider consult line, supporting rural maternal health EMS services, and studying barriers to independent birth centers. Furthermore, it expands employee protections, allowing new parents to attend medical appointments related to postpartum care and their infants.

The legislation introduces new sections to existing laws, including provisions for waiving copayments for mental health and substance use treatment for perinatal individuals, thereby enhancing access to essential health services. It also mandates that health carriers provide coverage for maternal depression screening during prenatal and postpartum periods, as well as for caregivers during their child's well-child visits at specified ages. The bill establishes a new section in RSA 275, allowing employees of companies with 20 or more employees to take up to 25 hours of unpaid leave for medical appointments related to childbirth, postpartum care, or their child's pediatric appointments within the first year of the child's birth or adoption. The Department of Health and Human Services is tasked with studying the implementation of a perinatal peer support certification program, with findings due by November 1, 2026. The bill includes appropriations from the general fund to support various initiatives, with effective dates set for January 1, 2026, and July 1, 2025, for different provisions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 275:37-d