--- title: HB 649. Insurance; coverage for comprehensive maternal mental health screening and care; provide collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hb649 cite_as: HB 649, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb649 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb649.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb649/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70848 date: 2025-04-04 status: introduced corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb648.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb650.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 249 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb649.md?full=1 bill_number: HB 649 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: bill status_date: 2025-02-26 last_action: House Withdrawn, Recommitted sponsors: - Karen Bennett - Mary Oliver - Carolyn Hugley - Todd Jones text_version: Comm Sub has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB649/2025 upstream_id: 1985866 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - maternal health - mental health screening - health insurance coverage - Medicaid - postpartum depression --- # HB 649. Insurance; coverage for comprehensive maternal mental health screening and care; provide ## Text 25 LC 46 1202S The House Committee on Insurance offers the following substitute to HB 649: A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Chapter 1 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to1 general provisions relative to insurance, so as to provide for coverage for comprehensive2 maternal mental health screening and care; to provide for such screenings at specific points3 during and after pregnancy as deemed necessary by a physician or other healthcare provider;4 to provide for additional screening; to provide for referral in formation and resources and5 educational materials regarding perinatal mood and anxiety disorders; to provide for a pilot6 program; to provide for funding; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for reports;7 to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Cod e of Georgia Annotated,8 relating to medical assistance generally, so as to provide for maternal mental health9 screenings for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders; to provide for related matters; to10 provide for legislative findings; to provide for a short title; to provide for an effective date11 and applicability; to provide for contingent effectiveness upon appropriation of funds; to12 repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.13 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:14 SECTION 1.15 The General Assembly finds that:16 H. B. 649 (SUB) - 1 - 25 LC 46 1202S (1) Georgia has prioritized advancements in access to mental health care and addressing17 issues of maternal health and maternal mortality;18 (2) The largest demographic of Americans grappling with depres sion is women of19 childbearing age. The mental well-being of women before, during, and after giving birth20 is a matter of significant concern for women, their families, their communities, and their21 healthcare providers. This issue is of particular interest to the General Assembly in that22 it has far-reaching impact on the public health and the welfare of people in this state;23 (3) Maternal mental health conditions are among the most commo n complications of24 pregnancy and childbirth;25 (4) Statistics from experts in the field show that one in five perinatal women will26 experience mood and anxiety disorders at some time during the p eriod spanning from27 pregnancy through 12 months after the birth of a child;28 (5) Maternal depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders can be debilitating29 conditions, but they are treatable if properly diagnosed;30 (6) Early identification and treatment of maternal mental health conditions significantly31 improves outcomes for mothers and children;32 (7) Children born to mothers with untreated depression face a higher likelihood of33 encountering developmental challenges and increased utilization of medical and mental34 health services throughout their lives;35 (8) It is imperative, then, in order to protect and promote public health and welfare, to36 ensure the prompt diagnosis and treatment of women experiencing postpartum depression37 or other maternal mental health disorders;38 (9) The American Medical Association, the American College of Obstetrics and39 Gynecology, the American College of Nurse Midwives, and the American Academy of40 Pediatrics recommend perinatal mental health screenings at cert ain intervals for all41 pregnant and postpartum women;42 H. B. 649 (SUB) - 2 - 25 LC 46 1202S (10) Universal maternal mental health screening questionnaires test for the presence of43 prenatal or postpartum mood disorders through validated, evidence based tools;44 (11) These screening questionnaires are available at little to no cost;45 (12) In order to preserve and promote maternal health and stro ng families, it is46 imperative that the State of Georgia provide access to periodic mental health screening47 questionnaires for women throughout and after their pregnancies; and48 (13) There is a critical need to ensure equitable access to ma ternal mental health49 screening and care across Georgia, particularly in rural and ot her underserved50 communities.51 SECTION 2.52 This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia Matern al Mental Health53 Improvement Act."54 SECTION 3.55 Chapter 1 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated , relating to general56 provisions relative to insurance, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:57 "33-1-28.58 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:59 (1) 'Maternal mental health screening' means the use of an independent, evidence based60 screening instrument that is in accordance with nationally reco gnized clinical practice61 guidelines developed by independent organizations or medical pr ofessional societies62 utilizing a transparent methodology and reporting structure and with a conflict-of-interest63 policy. Such guidelines establish standards of care informed by a systematic review of64 evidence and an assessment of the benefits and risks of alterna tive care options and65 include recommendations intended to optimize patient care.66 (2) 'Medically necessary' has the same meaning as in Code Section 33-1-27.67 H. B. 649 (SUB) - 3 - 25 LC 46 1202S (3) 'Mental healthcare provider' means any person licensed und er Title 43 to provide68 prenatal, labor and delivery, or postpartum care, including without limitation physicians,69 psychiatrists, psychologists, advanced practice registered nurs es, physician assistants,70 licensed clinical social workers, and licensed professional counselors and marriage and71 family therapists.72 (4) 'Telehealth services' means services provided via two-way, real-time interactive73 communication between a patient and a mental healthcare provide r at a distant site74 through telecommunications equipment, which services are compliant with federal Health75 Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) pr ivacy, security, and76 breach notification rules.77 (b) Each health benefit policy issued, delivered, or renewed i n this state shall provide78 coverage for medically necessary:79 (1) Maternal mental health screening during the prenatal perio d and 12 months80 postpartum; and81 (2) Care and treatment for those screenings positive for mater nal mental health82 conditions.83 (c) All of the services provided in this Code section shall be covered whether provided in84 person or through telehealth services.85 (d) The provisions of this Code section shall apply to all pol icies, contracts, and86 certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued, or renewed in this state on87 or after January 1, 2026."88 SECTION 4.89 Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Geor gia Annotated, relating to90 medical assistance generally, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:91 H. B. 649 (SUB) - 4 - 25 LC 46 1202S "49-4-159.5.92 (a) Except in cases where the woman refuses the maternal menta l health screening, a93 pregnant or postpartum woman seeking healthcare from a physicia n or other healthcare94 provider shall be screened for perinatal mood and anxiety disor ders, as determined95 necessary:96 (1) At the pregnant woman's first prenatal visit;97 (2) When the pregnant woman is between 28 to 32 weeks' gestation;98 (3) Between delivery and discharge from the facility where the pregnant woman gives99 birth;100 (4) At the woman's six-week postpartum obstetrical visit;101 (5) If there is a pregnancy loss and at the follow-up obstetric visit after such loss; and102 (6) At a pediatric visit occurring when the infant is three months of age or, if there is no103 such visit, at the postpartum woman's healthcare visit any time from three months to one104 year after pregnancy loss or delivery.105 (b) The right to refuse the mental health screening described in subsection (a) of this Code106 section shall not exist for a patient determined by the physician or other healthcare provider107 to be mentally incompetent.108 (c)(1) The maternal mental health screening provided for in subsection (a) of this Code109 section shall be conducted by the physician or other healthcare provider who is providing110 prenatal, obstetric, or postpartum care of the pregnant woman o r pediatric care of the111 woman's infant, as deemed necessary by such physician or health care provider. Each112 such screening shall utilize questionnaires that conform with n ationally recognized113 clinical practice guidelines and shall be used for the purposes of diagnosis, treatment,114 appropriate management, or ongoing monitoring of a woman's mental health, well-being,115 disease, or condition as supported by medical and scientific evidence.116 (2) Additional mate rnal mental health screenings, which may be refused, may be117 conducted at any other point during the pregnancy or the postpartum period as deemed118 H. B. 649 (SUB) - 5 - 25 LC 46 1202S necessary by the physician or other healthcare provider. Appropriate referral information119 and resources addressing perinatal mood or anxiety disorders sh all be provided during120 such screenings.121 (d) A physician or other healthcare provider who provides obstetric or pediatric care shall122 provide educational materials through electronic or other means on the signs and symptoms123 of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders to pregnant and postpartum women under his or124 her care, or to mothers of children under his or her care, as d eemed necessary by such125 physician or healthcare provider.126 (e) This Code section shall not preclude any other healthcare provider acting within his or127 her scope of practice from screening for maternal mental health conditions or from128 providing referral information and resources or educational mat erials on perinatal mood129 and anxiety disorders.130 (f) The department shall establish a comprehensive quality metrics program that includes131 the following:132 (1) Process measures, including but not limited to:133 (A) Percentage of eligible patients screened at each required interval;134 (B) Time from positive screen to first behavioral health contact;135 (C) Completion rates for referrals to behavioral health services; and136 (D) Utilization rates of telehealth services;137 (2) Outcome measures, including but not limited to:138 (A) Rates of postpartum depression and anxiety identification;139 (B) Emergency department utilization for mental health concerns;140 (C) Psychiatric hospitalization rates; and141 (D) Duration of treatment engagement;142 (3) Equity measures, including but not limited to:143 (A) Screening and treatment rates stratified by race, ethnicity, and geographic location;144 and145 H. B. 649 (SUB) - 6 - 25 LC 46 1202S (B) Disparities in access to care and outcomes; and146 (4) Patient experience measures, including but not limited to:147 (A) Satisfaction with screening process;148 (B) Perceived barriers to care; and149 (C) Experiences with telehealth services.150 (g) The department shall establish a three-year pilot program for remote maternal mental151 health screening and monitoring no later than January 1, 2026, that shall:152 (1) Prioritize high-risk populations and rural communities;153 (2) Include telehealth services;154 (3) Integrate with existing maternal health programs including home visiting services;155 and156 (4) Collect data on program effectiveness and barriers to care.157 (h) The department may allocate sufficient funds to support:158 (1) Technology infrastructure and support;159 (2) Provider training and technical assistance; and160 (3) Program evaluation and reporting.161 (i) The department shall:162 (1) Promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement this chapter;163 (2) Establish a process for monitoring compliance; and164 (3) Report annually to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and the House165 Committees on Health and Public Health on the implementation progress and outcomes166 of the requirements of this Code section.167 (j) The annual report provided in subsection (i) of this Code section shall be required from168 July 1, 2026, through July 1, 2028.169 (k) To implement the provisions of this Code section, the depa rtment shall, when170 necessary submit a Medicaid state plan amendment or waiver request to the United States171 Department of Health and Human Services."172 H. B. 649 (SUB) - 7 - 25 LC 46 1202S SECTION 5.173 This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2026, only if pri or to such date, funds are174 specifically appropriated for the purposes of this Act in an ap propriations Act making175 specific reference to this Act.176 SECTION 6.177 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.178 H. B. 649 (SUB) - 8 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia House bill would require health insurance plans and Medicaid to cover maternal mental health screenings before and after childbirth, and require doctors to screen pregnant and postpartum women for mood and anxiety disorders. ### Plain-language summary Georgia currently has no statewide requirement that insurers cover maternal mental health screening or that doctors screen pregnant and postpartum patients for depression and anxiety. This bill, called the Georgia Maternal Mental Health Improvement Act, would change that in two ways. First, it adds a new section to Georgia's insurance code (O.C.G.A. § 33-1-28) requiring every health benefit policy issued or renewed in the state to cover medically necessary maternal mental health screening during pregnancy and up to 12 months after birth, plus treatment for anyone who screens positive, in person or by telehealth. Second, it adds a new Medicaid section (O.C.G.A. § 49-4-159.5) requiring screening for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders at specific visits, such as the first prenatal visit and the six-week postpartum checkup, unless the patient refuses. It also directs the Department of Community Health to run quality metrics, a three-year telehealth pilot program for high-risk and rural patients, and annual reports from 2026 through 2028. The whole Act only takes effect January 1, 2026, and only if the legislature specifically appropriates funding for it. ### What it does - Requires all health benefit policies issued or renewed in Georgia to cover medically necessary maternal mental health screening during pregnancy and for 12 months postpartum, plus follow-up treatment. - Requires Medicaid providers to screen pregnant and postpartum women for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders at set points, including the first prenatal visit and the six-week postpartum visit, unless the patient refuses. - Removes the right to refuse screening for patients a provider determines to be mentally incompetent. - Directs the Department of Community Health to create a quality metrics program tracking screening rates, treatment access, and disparities by race and geography. - Establishes a three-year pilot program for remote (telehealth) maternal mental health screening focused on high-risk and rural populations, to start by January 1, 2026. - Makes the entire Act contingent on the General Assembly specifically appropriating funds for it before the January 1, 2026 effective date. ### Who it affects Pregnant and postpartum women in Georgia, health insurers and the plans they issue, obstetric and pediatric healthcare providers, Medicaid recipients and providers, and the Department of Community Health, which would run the new screening, reporting, and pilot program requirements. ### Why it matters If funded, more pregnant and postpartum women in Georgia would receive mental health screenings covered by insurance or Medicaid, potentially catching depression or anxiety earlier, especially in rural areas served by the new telehealth pilot. Because the law only takes effect with a specific appropriation, its real-world impact depends on future budget decisions. ### Key provisions - Section 3 adds O.C.G.A. § 33-1-28, requiring insurance coverage for maternal mental health screening and related treatment, applicable to policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. - Section 4 adds O.C.G.A. § 49-4-159.5, listing six required screening points for Medicaid patients, from the first prenatal visit through a pediatric visit at three months. - Section 4(f) requires the Department of Community Health to track process, outcome, equity, and patient experience measures related to screening and treatment. - Section 4(g) creates a three-year pilot program for remote maternal mental health screening in high-risk and rural communities, to begin no later than January 1, 2026. - Section 4(i)-(j) requires the department to write implementing rules and report annually to legislative health committees from July 1, 2026 through July 1, 2028. - Section 5 makes the entire Act's effectiveness contingent on the General Assembly appropriating specific funds for it before January 1, 2026. ## Status - Status: Introduced (2025-02-26) - Last action: House Withdrawn, Recommitted (2025-04-04) - Sponsors: Karen Bennett, Mary Oliver, Carolyn Hugley, Todd Jones - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70848 > The history, votes, and amendments (249 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb649.md?full=1