On August 7, 2025, the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health submitted a comment letter to Secretary Kennedy to express concern regarding potential changes to the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).

Our comments focus on the critical importance of maintaining evidence-based, preventive services for maternal mental health, specifically, the USPSTF recommendations that have driven expanded access to screening and early intervention. These services are lifesaving and essential for working families across the U.S.

The full text of our letter is shared below.

August 7, 2025 

The Honorable Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. 
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services 
200 Independence Ave, SW 
Washington, DC 20201 

Dear Secretary Kennedy, 

On behalf of the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, a non-profit organization working to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment of maternal mental health disorders in the U.S., we are writing to share how preventive services addressing maternal mental health impact women and families in light of reports that the Department of Health and Human Services may be considering a sweeping change to the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). 

Maternal mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders, are the most common complications of pregnancy and childbirth, affecting at least 1 in 5 women during the perinatal period. These conditions are now the leading cause of maternal mortality in the United States, primarily due to suicide and overdose in the first year postpartum. These tragedies are largely preventable, but only if screening and timely interventions are available and accessible to those who need them most.

The USPSTF 2019 recommendation regarding screening for maternal depression has played a foundational role in expanding access to routine mental health screenings in pregnancy and the postpartum period. Once the USPSTF issued its recommendation, other organizations, including the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, followed suit. 

Further, the USPSTF recommendation that preventive interventions be provided to slow the progression of symptoms and prevent their onset in high-risk populations has garnered interest from Medicaid and commercial payors in billing guidance and network onboarding of evidence-based prevention programs. 

Both services must be covered by commercial and private insurance at no cost to patients, when offered by providers. This is paramount to working women and families who receive their benefits from employers or the Affordable Care Act exchanges. These benefits should be provided at no or low cost for working families, as the cost of maternity care is already an incredible burden.

We urge you to uphold the mission of the USPSTF and preserve its independence and evidence-based processes, which are essential to ensuring mothers and their unborn children and infants have access to the preventive care they need to lead healthier lives.

Thank you for your consideration. 

Sincerely,

Joy Burkhard, MBA
CEO 
[email protected]

Kathryn Santoro 
Principal 
[email protected]