HB1346: HB1346 Georgia Maternal Mental Health Improvement Act; enact

This bill, called the Georgia Maternal Mental Health Improvement Act, addresses postpartum depression and other mental health conditions that affect pregnant and postpartum women. It amends Georgia's insurance code to require health plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027 to cover medically necessary maternal mental health screening during pregnancy and up to 12 months after birth, plus follow-up care for positive screenings, whether delivered in person or by telehealth. Separately, it amends Georgia's Medicaid law to let physicians screen pregnant and postpartum women for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders at specific points, such as the first prenatal visit, 28 to 32 weeks, at discharge after delivery, the six-week postpartum visit, and around three months after birth. Patients may generally refuse screening unless found mentally incompetent. The Department of Community Health must track quality metrics and run a three-year pilot program for remote screening in high-risk and rural areas. The whole Act only takes effect January 1, 2027 if the General Assembly specifically appropriates funding for it.

• Requires Georgia health insurance plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027 to cover medically necessary maternal mental health screening from pregnancy through 12 months postpartum.
• Requires those same plans to cover treatment for conditions identified through a positive maternal mental health screening, in person or via telehealth.
• Adds a new Medicaid law (O.C.G.A. § 49-4-159.5) letting physicians screen pregnant and postpartum women for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders at defined visits, with a right to refuse unless the patient is mentally incompetent.
• Directs the Department of Community Health to build a quality metrics program tracking screening rates, referral completion, hospitalization rates, and disparities by race and geography.
• Creates a three-year pilot program for remote maternal mental health screening in rural and high-risk communities, to start by January 1, 2027 if funding is available.
• Makes the entire Act contingent on the General Assembly specifically appropriating money for it before January 1, 2027.

Pregnant and postpartum women in Georgia, health insurers and health benefit plans, physicians and other healthcare providers (including psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, social workers, and counselors), the Department of Community Health, and Medicaid recipients, especially in rural and underserved areas.

If funded, more Georgia women would be routinely screened for postpartum depression and anxiety at set points during and after pregnancy, with insurance covering treatment. Rural and high-risk patients could gain access to a new remote screening pilot, though none of this takes effect unless lawmakers separately provide the money.

• Section 1 lists legislative findings on the prevalence and impact of untreated maternal mental health conditions on mothers and children.
• Section 3 adds O.C.G.A. § 33-1-28, requiring insurance coverage for maternal mental health screening and related treatment for policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027.
• Section 4 adds O.C.G.A. § 49-4-159.5, listing six specific points during and after pregnancy when Medicaid patients may be screened for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
• Section 4 also requires the Department of Community Health to build a quality metrics program covering process, outcome, equity, and patient experience measures.
• Section 4 directs the department to launch a three-year remote screening pilot program by January 1, 2027, prioritizing rural and high-risk populations, subject to available funding.
• Section 4 requires annual reports to legislative health committees from July 1, 2027 through July 1, 2029.
• Section 5 makes the entire Act effective January 1, 2027 only if the General Assembly specifically appropriates funds for it in that year's appropriations Act.

1. 2026-02-26House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
2. 2026-02-19House Second Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-18House First Readers (House)
4. 2026-02-17House Hopper (House)

• Anissa Jones (D, HD-143)Primary sponsor
• Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
• Tangie Herring (D, HD-145)
• Todd Jones (R, HD-025)

• maternal mental health
• postpartum depression
• health insurance coverage
• Medicaid
• rural healthcare