Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official page posted by the Virginia General Assembly, fetched 2026-08-29. Where this bill amends existing law, language marked for deletion in the official page appears here in brackets. This is the chaptered version. The official bill page.
CHAPTER 840 An Act to amend and reenact § 38.2-3414.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to health insurance; coverage for maternal mental health screenings. [H 1400] Approved April 13, 2026 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia: 1. That § 38.2-3414.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows: § 38.2-3414.1. Obstetrical benefits; coverage for maternal mental health postpartum services. A. [Each] As used in this section, "maternal mental health" means a mental health condition that occurs during pregnancy or during the postpartum period and includes postpartum depression. B. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 38.2-3419 or subdivision A 1 of § 38.2-6506, each insurer proposing to issue an individual or group hospital policy or major medical policy in this Commonwealth, each corporation proposing to issue an individual or group hospital, medical or major medical subscription contract, and each health maintenance organization providing a health care plan for health care services that provides benefits for obstetrical services shall provide coverage for maternal mental health screenings and postpartum services as provided in this section. [B.] C. Such coverage shall include benefits for inpatient care and a home visit or visits which shall be in accordance with the medical criteria, outlined in the most current version of or an official update to the "Guidelines for Perinatal Care" prepared by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists or the "Standards for Obstetric-Gynecologic Services" prepared by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Such coverage shall be provided incorporating any changes in such Guidelines or Standards within six months of the publication of such Guidelines or Standards or any official amendment thereto. [C.] [The] [requirements] [of] [this] [section] [shall] [apply] [to] [all] [insurance] [policies,] [contracts] [and] [plans] [delivered,] [issued] [for] [delivery,] [reissued,] [or] [extended] [on] [and] [after] [July] [1,] [1996,] [or] [at] [any] [time] [thereafter] [when] [any] [term] [of] [the] [policy,] [contract] [or] [plan] [is] [changed] [or] [any] [premium] [adjustment] [is] [made.] D. Such coverage for maternal mental health screenings shall include at least one maternal mental health screening to be conducted during pregnancy, at least one additional screening to be conducted during the first six weeks of the postpartum period, and additional postpartum screenings, if determined to be medically necessary and clinically appropriate in the judgment of the treating provider. E. Coverage for a prescription drug that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of a maternal mental health condition shall not be subject to prior authorization requirements unless there are clinically significant safety or efficacy concerns. F. This section shall not apply to short-term travel, accident only, or limited or specified disease policies or contracts, nor to policies or contracts designed for issuance to persons eligible for coverage under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, known as Medicare, or any other similar coverage under state or federal governmental plans. 2. That the provisions of this act shall apply to any individual or group accident and sickness insurance policy, individual or group accident and sickness subscription contract, or health care plan for health care services delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in the Commonwealth on and after January 1, 2027.
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