Under a bill signed Thursday by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, new mothers receiving Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Program benefits will now have postpartum depression screening and counseling covered, according to The Texas Tribune.
The goal of the bill is to curb the state's rising maternal mortality rate by encouraging low-income mothers to be tested for postpartum depression early, according to the report.
"Passing this bill is a key step toward connecting more new moms with the treatment they need to get healthy and support their babies' health," Stephanie Ruben, executive director of Texans Care for Children, told The Texas Tribune.