MD HB1118

Requires health insurance carriers to provide pregnant members with a standing referral to a mental health care provider for the duration of pregnancy and 1 year after giving birth, without requiring a written treatment plan

Mandates insurance coverage for perinatal mental health condition screenings at each prenatal visit, at least once within 6 weeks postpartum, and at each well-child visit during the child's first year of life

Establishes a perinatal mental health condition screening program through the Maryland Department of Health, requiring providers to conduct screenings using validated, free, multilingual tools at specified intervals

Requires health care providers who manage pregnancy or postpartum care to complete at least 2 continuing education credit hours on perinatal mental health conditions for their first license renewal after April 1, 2027

Takes effect October 1, 2026, with insurance provisions applying to policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027