AL SB191

Alabama Medicaid Agency must provide coverage for postpartum depression screening that complies with evidence-based guidelines, ensures broad access, and provides adequate reimbursement to health care professionals.

Alabama Medicaid Agency is prohibited from imposing step therapy protocols (requiring patients to try drugs in a specific sequence) for FDA-approved prescription drugs used to treat postpartum depression.

Alabama Department of Public Health must develop and periodically update educational materials on postpartum depression symptoms, coping methods, treatment options, and resources for health care professionals and patients, posting materials online and in printed form.

Hospitals must provide the educational materials to parents or family members of newborns upon discharge.

Physicians and health care professionals must assess birth mothers for postpartum depression during postnatal or pediatric infant care, with the act becoming effective October 1, 2025.