SB 191 Alabama Senate · 2025 Regular Session

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

SB 191 requires the Alabama Medicaid Agency to cover screening for postpartum depression and prohibits step therapy protocols for related prescription drugs for Medicaid patients. It also mandates the Alabama Department of Public Health to develop and distribute educational materials on postpartum depression for healthcare professionals and new parents. Additionally, the bill requires physicians and other healthcare professionals to assess birth mothers for postpartum depression as part of postnatal or pediatric infant care. These provisions aim to increase access to screening, treatment, and education for postpartum depression.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 20, 2025 Last action May 6, 2025

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What changed between versions

Introduced → Healthcare 1st Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill was revised from an introduced version to a substitute version, significantly reducing its scope. The original bill required Alabama Medicaid to cover postpartum depression screening and prohibited step therapy for related medications, while also mandating that doctors assess mothers for postpartum depression. The substitute version removes the Medicaid coverage requirement and the prohibition on step therapy, keeping only the educational materials provision and the assessment requirement.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by removing Medicaid-related provisions (coverage requirements and step therapy restrictions), leaving only state-level educational materials and assessment requirements.

REQUIREMENT

Removed requirement for Alabama Medicaid Agency to cover postpartum depression screening.

Removed prohibition on step therapy protocols for prescription drugs treating postpartum depression in Medicaid.

Removed requirement for Alabama Medicaid Agency to ensure adequate reimbursement for postpartum depression screening.

Changed educational materials requirement from Alabama Department of Public Health developing materials to publishing materials to share with healthcare professionals and educate parents.

Changed hospital liability protection from covering all maternal mental health information to specifically covering materials developed under this section.

Floor votes

How they voted

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

upper

Feb 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Healthcare)

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors