Federal Policy
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Senate Committee Advances 2026 Funding Bill, Including Maternal Mental Health Priorities
Now that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act has passed, you may wonder where 2026 funding stands for Federal programs that impact maternal mental health, which were not addressed in that bill. This blog post provides an update and assesses individual programs’ impact on maternal mental health.
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Our Call to Preserve USPSTF Maternal Mental Health Recommendations
The Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health is urging the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) to protect evidence-based recommendations that ensure access to maternal mental health screening and early intervention. These preventive services save lives, support working families, and are critical to addressing maternal suicide and depression nationwide.
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The Overlapping Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Crises Impacting Maternal Mental Health
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) and the Trust for America’s Health’s Pain in the Nation 2025: The Epidemics of Alcohol, Drug, and Suicide Deaths shed light on the broader behavioral health landscape impacting the U.S., including women of reproductive age. While neither report…
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Our Response to the FDA SSRI Roundtable
On July 21, 2025, the FDA convened an Expert Roundtable on Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Pregnancy. Organizations such as The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the National Curriculum in Reproductive Psychiatry (NCRP) have raised concerns about many of the panelists disregarding the research about the safety of SSRIs as well…
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How the Family First Prevention Services Act Supports Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Recovery
The Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) expands Title IV-E funding beyond foster care, enabling states to invest in evidence-based programs that prevent family separation. By including mental health treatment, substance use recovery, and parenting support, FFPSA provides a critical opportunity to address maternal mental health and substance use, key factors in child welfare outcomes.
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Does the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA) Directly Impact Maternal Health Benefits?
The One Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) has raised concerns, but for mothers and families, several key protections remain. While many in the general population may lose healthcare coverage, OBBBA does not affect pregnancy Medicaid or the option for states to extend postpartum Medicaid up to 12 months. The bill also does not reduce SNAP benefits…
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Policy Center Comments on CMS & ONC RFI Strengthening the Health Technology Ecosystem
The Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health responds to CMS and ONC’s request for information on strengthening the health technology ecosystem, highlighting the role of digital therapeutics, EMR integration, and equitable access in improving maternal mental health care.
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Our Letter to the Make America Healthy Again Caucus
In December 2024, a group of Republican senators launched the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Caucus to address primary care access, disease prevention, and the role of nutrition in health. The Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health responded with a formal letter, urging the caucus to include maternal health priorities—such as testing for nutritional deficiencies,…
