“Just like we have case-management programs for patients who have diabetes or sleep issues or back pain, a case-management program requires the insurance company to take some ownership of making sure their patients are getting the treatment they need to be healthy,” said Ms. Root Askew, who is now advocating for the bill on behalf of the group 2020 Mom.
Health insurance companies haven’t taken a position on the legislation. It’s unclear how much it would cost them to comply, because some already have infrastructure in place for case-management programs, and some do not. But there is consensus among insurers and health advocates that such programs save money in the long run.
“The sooner that you can get good treatment for a mom, the less expensive that condition will be to manage over the course of the woman’s life and over the course of that child’s life,” Ms. Root Askew said.
Some doctors still have their objections. Under the bill, they could be disciplined for not screening. Some have said they worry about how much time it would take.