Bill · S. 3698· Senate(119-S-3698)
Mental Health and MAMA Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 1/27/2026
- Last activity
- 1/27/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Sponsored by
- Jeanne Shaheen
- Cosponsors
- - 3 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Mental Health and MAMA Act of 2026 aims to amend several existing laws, including the Public Health Service Act, ERISA, and the Internal Revenue Code. The bill would require group health plans and health insurance issuers that provide coverage for mental health or substance use disorder services to eliminate cost-sharing for these services for pregnant and postpartum individuals. This protection would span from the diagnosis of pregnancy through a one-year period following the end of the pregnancy. These requirements would apply to services provided by in-network providers. The changes are intended to take effect for plan years beginning at least two years after the Act is enacted.
Yes· 3 of 10
Does this make mental health care easier to get?+7
The bill eliminates cost-sharing for mental health and substance use disorder services for pregnant and postpartum individuals.
Would women be better off under this?+7
The bill specifically targets protections for pregnant and postpartum individuals.
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+5
By removing cost-sharing requirements, the bill makes mental health and substance use services more accessible to pregnant and postpartum people.
The opposite
Would business owners be better off under this?-2
The bill imposes new requirements on group health plans, which may increase administrative or premium costs for employers.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Elimination of Cost-Sharing for Mental Health and Substance Use Services: For individuals covered by group health plans or health insurance issuers, the bill would remove cost-saring requirements for mental health services and substance use disorder services (including telehealth) from the time of pregnancy diagnosis until one year after the pregnancy ends. This benefit applies to services furnished by in-network providers. (Section 2)
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Enhanced Continuity of Care: The bill amends existing laws to update how continuity of care is handled for pregnant individuals and those requiring mental health or substance use disorder services following a pregnancy. This includes specific provisions for those who received such treatment while pregnant and the one-year period following the pregnancy. (Section 2)
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Delayed Implementation: The benefits and requirements established by this Act would not take effect until plan years beginning on or after the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment. (Section 2)
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Improves Mental Health Access+7Improves Healthcare Access+5Improves Opioid Crisis Response+4Reduces Private Insurance Premiums+3
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Women+7Good For Low Income Households+4Good For Middle Class Households+3Good For Business Owners-2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Gender Equality+5Improves Poverty Reduction+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+2
- 1/27/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat · Wisconsin
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
Martin HeinrichDemocrat · New Mexico