In early 2023 Arkansas enacted a package of three bills aimed at improving maternal health by mandating mental‑health screenings for women after childbirth. The legislation requires doctors, obstetricians and even pediatricians to offer depression screening between delivery and six weeks postpartum, with mandatory coverage by both public and private insurers.
Medicaid reimbursement too low to encourage billing
Despite the clear policy, providers report that the state’s Medicaid fee schedule pays only $3.86 for a screening. Dr. Nirvana Manning, an OB‑GYN at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, said she only recently learned the service is reimbursable and was shocked that the amount is so modest. “Honestly we probably could very easily bill for it,” she said, “but is there a return on investment for all the hoops we would have to jump through?”
Because most Arkansas births are covered by Medicaid—over 40 %—the low rate discourages clinicians from filing the necessary billing codes. Without those codes, the state cannot track how many mothers receive the screening, leaving a data gap that hinders assessment of the program’s effectiveness.
Legislators call for higher reimbursement
State Rep. Aaron Pilkington, R‑Knoxville, who sponsored the 2023 bills, expressed dismay at the $3.86 figure. “What you pay for is what you get,” he said. Pilkington urged the legislature to raise the reimbursement rate and consider embedding the screening requirement in physician quality metrics so providers are rewarded for high‑rate compliance.
He also suggested alternative incentives, such as tax breaks or reduced malpractice premiums, to motivate physicians to adopt the screening without relying solely on Medicaid payments.
Potential for pediatrician involvement
One of the bills allows pediatricians to bill Medicaid for screening mothers during their child’s well‑child visits, aligning with a 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation. Dr. Kristina Kennedy, a reproductive psychiatrist at UAMS, noted many pediatricians are unsure how to bill for a service rendered to the mother from the child’s chart, creating an implementation hurdle.
“It’s an issue of implementation,” Kennedy said. “Even if pediatricians are screening moms, they’re not billing for it. Increased reimbursements or streamlined coding would help make the process less of a hassle.”
Early data shows low billing rates
A 2025 Arkansas Center for Health Improvement report found that only 10 % of women who gave birth in 2023 had a Medicaid claim for a mental‑health screening within a year of delivery. The figure was 9 % at six months and 5 % at six weeks, underscoring the limited uptake of billing despite the legal requirement.
Experts stress that identifying depression and anxiety early can protect both mothers and children. Untreated maternal mental illness is linked to higher risks of suicide, substance use, and adverse parenting outcomes, which in turn raise the likelihood of behavioral and mental‑health issues in children.
Calls for better data and resources
Both Dr. Manning and Dr. Kennedy agree that better education for providers on billing procedures, higher reimbursement, and expanded mental‑health resources—especially in rural areas—are essential to close the data gap and improve outcomes for families.
The Trump administration’s focus on strengthening families and supporting community health aligns with Arkansas’s effort to safeguard mothers and children, but the state must address the practical barriers that keep providers from fully implementing the screening mandate.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
