HB1747

To the Members of the Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs Committee, I support HB 1747 FN, “An Act relative to treatment of perinatal mental health conditions,” because it takes an important step toward improving the health and wellbeing of families across our state. This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services and the Insurance Department to develop and operate comprehensive perinatal mental health programs — ensuring that women and birthing people have access to screening, treatment, and support for depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions that can occur during pregnancy and after childbirth. Addressing perinatal mental health not only improves outcomes for mothers and caregivers, but also supports healthy child development and stronger families. Investing in early, effective mental health care helps reduce long-term health costs, prevents crises, and affirms New Hampshire’s commitment to holistic family health care. Thank you for your time and consideration. Respectfully, Dr. Maria Boylan Board Certified Family Physician New Hampshire Medical Society

Perinatal mental health is one of the most important factors impacting infant-mother attachment. Perinatal mental health is often overlooked or oversimplified, and this bill seeks to address that in our state. By protecting perinatal services, we are protecting NH parents as well as their children. This investment leads to stronger connections between parent and child, a better likelihood of positive feelings about parenthood, a better ability to return to work after parental leave, and a healthier population overall. The projected cost of HB1747 is a whopping ZERO dollars, while the effects of it would lead to a healthier workforce to stimulate our local economy. Additionally, these protections would likely lead women such as myself to be more willing to have children - the immense consideration of mental health was a big factor in my decision when having a child. Please make the obvious choice to support HB1747, and families across New Hampshire. Thank you.

My name is Charlotte Barrie and I live in Merrimack. I’m here in strong support of HB 1747. Maternal mental health is real health care. Pregnancy and the postpartum period are already intense, and too many people fall through the cracks because screening is inconsistent, follow-up isn’t reimbursed, and there simply aren’t enough trained providers. HB 1747 fixes real problems in a practical way. It supports routine mental health screening during pregnancy, pays providers for the time it takes to actually help patients after a diagnosis, and invests in building a trained perinatal mental health workforce here in New Hampshire. That matters, especially in a state where access to care already depends heavily on where you live. This bill isn’t abstract or ideological. It’s about catching issues earlier, connecting people to care faster, and making sure providers can afford to do this work well. Implementation details can be worked out. The need for care can’t wait. Please vote OUGHT TO PASS on HB 1747. Our families deserve better support during one of the most vulnerable times of their lives.

As a primary care physician in New Hampshire, I believe that the passage of this bill is important to promoting the overall health and wellbeing of mothers and children in New Hampshire. Studies have shown that mothers with inadequately controlled mental health conditions in pregnancy have worse fetal outcomes. Additionally, motherhood is a challenging time, especially for those with underlying mental health conditions. Adding supports for this important population is an important step in taking care of New Hampshire's mothers and children, as well as the clinicians providing care for them.

New Hampshire HB1747 is a necessary and timely investment in the health of parents, children, and families across our state. Perinatal mental health conditions are among the most common complications of pregnancy and the postpartum period, yet too many families face barriers to screening, treatment, and qualified providers—especially those relying on Medicaid. By requiring reimbursement for perinatal mental health screenings and provider time, and by expanding training and loan reimbursement programs for specialized clinicians, HB1747 addresses both access and workforce shortages in a practical, evidence-based way. Early identification and treatment of perinatal mental health conditions improves outcomes for parents and infants, reduces long-term health care costs, and strengthens family stability. Supporting HB1747 affirms New Hampshire’s commitment to preventive care, maternal health, and ensuring that no parent is left without support during a critical period of life.

Addressing perinatal mental health has profound impacts on both maternal and child health outcomes. Supporting this legislation is critical not only for the well-being of mothers, but also for their children. Untreated perinatal mental health conditions are associated with adverse developmental outcomes, including cognitive delays, behavioral challenges, and an increased long-term risk of depression for the child. As an obstetric care provider in the state of New Hampshire, I need effective tools to properly address this issue. I cannot provide both comprehensive obstetric care and mental health care. I am not trained, nor do I have the time, to do both. What I can do is identify concerns early, refer patients to certified mental health counselors, and work as part of a coordinated care team. Currently, I am often unable to make these referrals because of insurance coverage barriers. As a result, patients return visit after visit without access to appropriate mental health treatment, leaving us unable to move forward with a meaningful care plan. In some cases, we are pushed to prescribe antidepressant medications while skipping first-line therapy—counseling—which may unnecessarily expose infants to medication effects, including withdrawal symptoms. HB 1747 would meaningfully improve care for mothers and babies by expanding access to appropriate perinatal mental health services. This legislation has the potential to create lasting positive impacts on maternal health and the long-term development of New Hampshire’s children.

I strongly support this bill to develop and operate a series of perinatal mental health-related programs. These programs are needed now more than ever before to support health pregnancies and healthy families.

Maternal mental health is extremely important to our state. Mental health conditions are a leading cause of maternal mortality. When moms have good mental health, their children do better too.

My name is Dr. Danielle Albushies. I enthusiastically support HB 1747. NH has one of the highest rates of depression and anxiety for moms in the country. Behavioral health, including substance overdoses, is the leading cause of maternal mortality in NH. We need to and must do better. Rather than reacting to depression and anxiety when the symptoms are severe in and after pregnancy, this bill addresses prevention of these conditions. It is important that HB 1747 proposes reimbursing eligible, pregnant Medicaid recipients for one mental health screening during each trimester of their pregnancy. HB 1747 also proposes proper reimbursement for eligible physicians or other qualified health care providers for time spent advising patients about resources and next steps upon diagnosing a patient with a perinatal mental health condition. This will certainly increase access to mental health care. There is a workforce shortage of mental health providers who are comfortable treating pregnant or postpartum patients with mental health challenges. HB 1747 addresses this issue by providing education to providers of perinatal mental health and loan reimbursement for providers who become certified. I urge this committee to pass this bill. When we support maternal health we reduce maternal and postpartum deaths, we reduce maternal depression and mental health challenges, we support the health of the newborn, we lower costs for new and growing families and we reduce poor health outcomes.

Honorable Chair and Committee Members, As a retired Obstetrician with experience in the diagnosis and management of perinatal mental health disorders, I write in support of HB 1747, which I co-sponsor. Mental health disorders pre-existing conception may be exacerbated by pregnancy and some disorders, including postpartum psychosis and peri-partum depression, may occur for the first time in relation to pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum recovery. These illnesses are unique and require specialized training and support for adequate treatment and prevention of recurrences with future pregnancies. I ask that you vote OTP on HB 1747 to support our New Hampshire moms and their infants. .

I absolutely support the addition of more safeguards for perinatal mental health - As a licensed clinical social worker I know many people who go undiagnosed and uncared for and could use supports that would significantly increase their likelihood of thriving postpartum.