The Cost of Untreated Maternal Mental Health

Impact: Legislative Update

The launch of this research corresponded to the vote on TX House Bill 133, which originally recommended extending healthcare coverage from 2 to 12 months postpartum for new moms covered by Medicaid, it was later negotiated down to 6 months. Due in large part to the leadership and partnership with Texans Care for Children, the key findings from the study were cited during the legislative hearing in support of extended postpartum coverage and improvement of access to medical and mental health care. In the final days of the 2021 Legislative Session, TX House Bill 133 passed and the Texas Healthcare Transformation and Quality Improvement Program (THTQIP) waiver amendment is now pending federal approval.

The Foundation supports extended Medicaid eligibility because of the positive effects on healthy pregnancies, births and Texas families and continues to urge the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHSC, and the Texas Legislature to explore options to extend Medicaid coverage for new mothers to one year postpartum, as proposed by most states and as recommended by Texas’ Maternal Mortality & Morbidity Review Committee.

The Issue:

Maternal mental health conditions are among the most common complications of pregnancy and childbirth and often go under-diagnosed and untreated despite the availability of effective screening and treatment tools. Untreated maternal mental health conditions have multigenerational consequences and are linked to negative outcomes in the mother and child from pregnancy and through the child’s life.

This report was developed by Mathematica and in partnership with Texans Care for Children through funding from St. David’s Foundation’s Evaluation and Strategic Learning department. It supports the goal of the Healthy Women and Girls priority area, to ensure that girls and women are supported with the resources, respect, and conditions vital for equitable health and well-being.

The Findings:

Excerpted from the full study, the graphics below illustrate key findings. This research continues to inform decision makers at a national scale, and was published in the open access journal BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth.