Rebecca Martinez

Supporting maternal health doesn't begin in the delivery room.

It starts with access to care, education, and resources, long before pregnancy.

Connecticut committed to providing access to maternal health services during the 2025 legislative session with the passage of HB 7102, An Act Concerning Maternal and Infant Health Care, and HB 7214, An Act Concerning Maternal Health.

Both pieces of legislation were signed into law recently.

HB7102 requires the state to develop a strategic plan to increase the number of birth centers and birthing hospitals in parts of the state with high percentages of Medicaid recipients and limited access to these facilities.

The bill also expands perinatal mental health services and strengthens family support, including programs that aid fathers in supporting maternal health.

HB7214 enhances hospital transparency and accountability in maternal care by establishing a task force to assess the availability of perinatal mental health care services and identify care gaps. It also calls for an advisory committee to study doula-friendly practices in hospitals.

HB 7102 and HB 7214 affirm Connecticut's dedication to ensuring safe, high-quality care, regardless of race, income, or zip code.

Governor Lamont recently signed legislation that puts patients first and holds insurance companies accountable.

Here’s what it does:

• Caps excessive premium hikes. Allows the Connecticut Insurance Department to limit rate increases for insurers that have a track record of hiking costs.
• Enforces mental health parity—with real consequences. Insurers must treat mental health like physical health, and those who don’t comply can face fines up to $625,000 and must publicly report how they’re doing.
• Ends harmful “step therapy” delays. Patients with MS, rheumatoid arthritis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression will no longer be forced to try cheaper meds first while their condition worsens, and trial periods are also cut from 60 to 30 days.