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REFERENCE TITLE: postpartum depression; treatment; insurers |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session 2025
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HB 2332 |
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Introduced by Representative Willoughby
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AN ACT
Amending Title 20, chapter 4, article 3, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 20-841.14; Amending Title 20, chapter 4, article 9, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 20-1057.20; Amending Title 20, chapter 6, article 4, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 20-1376.11; Amending Title 20, chapter 6, article 5, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 20-1406.11; Amending Title 20, chapter 28, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 20-3506; Amending Title 20, chapter 31, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 20-3655; Amending Title 36, chapter 5, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding sections 36-503.04 and 36-503.05; Amending Title 36, chapter 29, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding sections 36-2930.07 and 36-2930.08; relating to postpartum depression.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 20, chapter 4, article 3, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 20-841.14, to read:
20-841.14. Coverage for postpartum depression; health care professionals
A hospital service corporation or medical service corporation that issues, amends, delivers or renews a subscription contract on or after January 1, 2026 shall provide coverage for postpartum depression screening pursuant to section 36-503.05 and additional reimbursement costs to adequately compensate a health care professional for the screening. The hospital service corporation or medical service corporation shall provide broad access to postpartum depression screening that is consistent with evidence-based guidelines.
Sec. 2. Title 20, chapter 4, article 9, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 20-1057.20, to read:
20-1057.20. Coverage for postpartum depression; health care professionals
A health care services organization that issues, amends, delivers or renews an evidence of coverage on or after January 1, 2026 shall provide coverage for postpartum depression screening pursuant to section 36-503.05 and additional reimbursement costs to adequately compensate a health care professional for the screening. The health care services organization shall provide broad access to postpartum depression screening that is consistent with evidence-based guidelines.
Sec. 3. Title 20, chapter 6, article 4, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 20-1376.11, to read:
20-1376.11. Coverage for postpartum depression; health care professionals
A disability insurer that issues, amends, delivers or renews a policy on or after JANUARY 1, 2026 shall provide coverage for postpartum depression screening pursuant to section 36-503.05 and additional reimbursement costs to adequately compensate a health care professional for the screening. The disability insurer shall provide broad access to postpartum depression screening that is consistent with evidence-based guidelines.
Sec. 4. Title 20, chapter 6, article 5, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 20-1406.11, to read:
20-1406.11. Coverage for postpartum depression; health care professionals
A group or blanket disability insurer that issues, amends, delivers or renews a policy on or after January 1, 2026 shall provide coverage for postpartum depression screening pursuant to section 36-503.05 and additional reimbursement costs to adequately compensate a health care professional for the screening. The group or blanket disability insurer shall provide broad access to postpartum depression screening that is consistent with evidence-based guidelines.
Sec. 5. Title 20, chapter 28, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 20-3506, to read:
20-3506. Coverage for postpartum depression; health care professionals
A health care insurer that issues, amends, delivers or renews a health plan on or after JANUARY 1, 2026 shall provide coverage for postpartum depression screening pursuant to section 36-503.05 and additional reimbursement costs to adequately compensate a health care professional for the screening. The health care insurer shall provide broad access to postpartum depression screening that is consistent with evidence-based guidelines.
Sec. 6. Title 20, chapter 31, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 20-3655, to read:
20-3655. Prescription drugs; coverage; postpartum depression; step therapy protocol
A health care insurer, health care plan, pharmacy benefit manager or utilization review agent may not require or impose a step therapy protocol for a drug that is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration to treat postpartum depression.
Sec. 7. Title 36, chapter 5, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding sections 36-503.04 and 36-503.05, to read:
36-503.04. Maternal mental health conditions; educational materials and information; distribution; definitions
A. The department shall develop written educational materials and information for health care professionals and patients regarding maternal mental health conditions, including postpartum depression. The materials shall include information on the symptoms and methods of coping with postpartum depression, as well as treatment options and resources. The department shall periodically review the materials and information to determine their accuracy and ensure that they reflect the most up-to-date and accurate information.
B. The department shall post the materials and information required by subsection A of this section on its public website. The department shall make available or distribute the materials and information in physical form on request.
C. A health care institution shall provide each departing new parent and other family members, as appropriate, with written materials and information developed pursuant to subsection A of this section on the new parent's discharge from the health care institution.
D. Each health care institution, primary care physician and primary care practitioner, or any other health professional who renders postnatal care or who provides pediatric infant care, shall provide the materials and information developed pursuant to subsection A of this section to any woman who presents with signs of a maternal mental health disorder.
E. For the purposes of this section:
1. "Health care institution" has the same meaning prescribed in section 36-401.
2. "Primary care physician" and "primary care practitioner" have the same meanings prescribed in section 36-2901.
36-503.05. Postpartum depression screening; referrals; definitions
A. Each primary care physician and primary care practitioner, or any other health professional who renders postnatal care or who provides pediatric infant care, shall ensure that the postnatal care patient or birth mother of the pediatric infant care patient, as applicable, is offered screening for postpartum depression and, if the patient or birth mother does not object, shall ensure that the postnatal care patient or birth mother is appropriately screened for postpartum depression consistent with evidence-based guidelines.
B. If a health professional who administers postpartum depression screening in accordance with this section determines based on the screening methodology administered that the postnatal care patient or birth mother of the pediatric infant care patient is likely to be suffering from postpartum depression, the health care professional shall provide appropriate referrals and discuss the availability of treatments for postpartum depression, including pharmacological treatments.
C. For the purposes of this section, "primary care physician" and "primary care practitioner" have the same meanings prescribed in section 36-2901.
Sec. 8. Title 36, chapter 29, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding sections 36-2930.07 and 36-2930.08, to read:
36-2930.07. Postpartum depression medication; step therapy; prohibition
The administration and its contractors may not require or impose any step therapy protocol as defined in section 20-3651 for a drug that is approved by the United States food and drug administration for treating postpartum depression.
36-2930.08. Postpartum depression; screening; coverage
The administration and its contractors shall provide coverage for postpartum depression screening that may be required pursuant to section 36-503.05. The administration and its contractors shall provide reimbursement for any required postpartum depression screening that is adequate to compensate the health care professional for providing the screening and to ensure broad access to postpartum depression screening that is consistent with evidence-based guidelines.