After Federal Mental Health Parity Rules Went Into Effect, Slightly More Pregnant & Postpartum Women With Depression Or Anxiety Received Psychotherapy

Between 2007, before federal rules on mental health parity went into effect, and 2019 more commercially insured pregnant and postpartum women were diagnosed with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), rising from 14% to 25%. However, during 2019 and 2020, only 10% of commercially insured women with PMADs received psychotherapy.

During this time period, two federal laws went into effect to require mental health parity in insurance coverage. The federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) was passed in 2008 and went into effect in 2010. It requires private insurers to cover mental health and addiction treatment at . . .