NY A08977

Requires maternal health care providers to facilitate maternal depression screenings within the first six weeks after birth.

Permits birth mothers to decline screening; providers must document the refusal in medical records and are relieved of liability under education law section 6530 if properly documented.

Mandates that health insurance policies cover maternal depression screenings as part of maternity care coverage for policies issued, renewed, or modified one year after the bill becomes law.

Applies coverage requirements to all insurance plans under articles 32 and 43 of the insurance law, ensuring insureds have direct access to maternal depression screenings and referrals from obstetrical, gynecologic, or pediatric providers of their choice.

Removes language conditioning coverage of maternal depression screenings on policy provisions, making such coverage mandatory rather than optional.