Committee approves bill to let Medicaid reimburse depression screening for pregnant women

The Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee approved House Bill 10‑11, which would permit Arkansas Medicaid to reimburse depression screening for pregnant women and authorize waiver applications for coverage where required.

Senator Missy Irvin, presenting for Representative Pilkington, said the legislature previously approved postpartum depression screening and that HB 10‑11 expands reimbursement to pregnant women. She noted that routine prenatal visits are often checkups and may not include mental‑health screening, and argued a reimbursement mechanism would encourage consistent screening.

A Department of Human Services representative, Mark White, said Medicaid may currently cover some screenings but that coverage can vary; the bill’s intent is to ensure the screening and associated reimbursement code are available. Committee members questioned whether screenings already occur in practice during prenatal appointments; DHS staff acknowledged practices vary.

The committee moved to pass the bill and carried it by voice vote.

Outcome: HB 10‑11 was advanced from committee to provide explicit Medicaid reimbursement authority for prenatal depression screening; sponsors and DHS said the measure clarifies coverage and coding for these services.