IL Policy - Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health

SB0019 (2025): Amends the Illinois Unified Code of Corrections to reform the parole and medical release process by requiring the Prisoner Review Board to consider specific mitigating factors when deciding whether to grant or deny release. The Board must now evaluate evidence that a petitioner suffered from postpartum psychosis or postpartum depression (as defined by the Code of Civil Procedure), if those conditions were contributing factors to the person’s criminal behavior or participation in the offense.

HB 3019(2025): Amends multiple sections of Illinois law to prohibit prior authorization for mental health and substance use disorder treatment during pregnancy and postpartum, and extend the prior authorization ban on inpatient mental health care to outpatient services and partial mental health treatment hospitalizations covered by state-regulated insurance, private insurance plans and Medicaid. Starting in 2026, requires insurers to reimburse beneficiaries for food, lodging, and travel if they must seek out-of-network behavioral health care due to network inadequacy.

HB 2517(2025): Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law in Illinois to mandate that, starting July 1, 2026, healthcare professionals providing maternal health services, including prenatal and postpartum care, must complete at least one hour of implicit bias awareness training per license renewal period that includes training in potential maternal health risk factors associated with childbearing individuals who are part of marginalized racial or ethnic groups with increased maternal mortality rates.

S.B.0647 (2024): requires licensed prenatal care providers to provide education about maternal mental health conditions and to screen for maternal mental health conditions at prenatal, postpartum, and pediatric visits.

S.B.0067/ S.B.1298 H.B.1384/H.B.2289 (2023): On or after July 1, 2022, individuals who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article receive coverage for perinatal depression screenings for the 12-month period beginning on the last day of their pregnancy. Medical assistance coverage shall be conditioned on the use of a screening instrument approved by the Department.

H.B. 2089 (2023): addresses the regulation of various measures in Illinois, including the insurance coverage of mental health care during pregnancy and post-pregnancy.

Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month Proclamation(2022-2023): This month aims to increase public awareness of the prevalence, symptoms, and effects of maternal mental health disorders.

S.B.0967 (2021): On or after July 1, 2022, individuals who are otherwise eligible for medical assistance under this Article receive coverage for perinatal depression screenings for the 12-month period beginning on the last day of their pregnancy. Medical assistance coverage shall be conditioned on the use of a screening instrument approved by the Department.

HB 2438(2019): Requires that mental health conditions occurring during pregnancy or during the postpartum period, including postpartum depression, be covered by insurers and that licensed physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and physician’s assistants who provide prenatal and postpartum care for a patient ensure that the mother is offered screening or is appropriately screened for mental health conditions.

HB 3511(2019): Established the Maternal Mental Health Conditions, Education, Early Diagnosis, and Treatment Act and required the department of human services to develop educational materials for healthcare professionals and patients about maternal mental health conditions and require birthing hospitals to supplement the materials with relevant resources to the region or community in which they are located.

Public Act 100-0574(2018): Allows postpartum illnesses like depression and psychosis to be mitigating factors in sentencing. That means mothers who are serving sentences for child neglect or infanticide may apply for a new sentencing hearing if they are serving more than the minimum sentence. Mothers who can prove they suffered from postpartum mental illness when they committed these crimes can reduce their sentencing.