HB1035

House Bill 1035 mandates that healthcare providers facilitate depression screenings for birth mothers within the first six weeks following birth. Physicians and healthcare professionals are required to document any patient refusal of such screening, which relieves the provider of liability regarding the screening. The bill further mandates that health benefit plans, including private insurance and government programs like Medicaid, provide coverage for these screenings. This coverage must be provided without the application of policy deductibles or copayment requirements. The legislation also establishes confidentiality protections for data collected under this mandate, exempting such records from disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. These provisions are scheduled to take effect for births occurring on or after January 1, 2024.