The Washington, D.C.-based school published its annual grading of states’ maternal mental health on May 14. The national grade improved from a D in 2023 to a ‘D+’ in 2024, according to a May 14 news release.
The report card grades states on 18 measures in three areas: providers and programs, screening requirements and reimbursement and insurance coverage and payment.
Five states were rated ‘F’ by the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health.
Another 25 states received grades of ‘D-,’ ‘D’ and ‘D+.’
Just three states received a grade higher than ‘C+,’ and no states earned an ‘A.’ California, the highest-rated state for maternal mental health, received a ‘B’.
The rankings were published the same day the Biden administration launched a new framework to improve maternal mental health. A federal task force published guidelines based around five pillars, including building a national infrastructure that prioritizes perinatal mental health and reduces disparities, and achieving more equitable access to care.
See the full state report card here.
