Massachusetts Moves to Expand Postpartum Care With Home Nurse Visits

September 16, 2026 - 04:28

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey has put forward a plan to offer free home visits by nurses to every family with a newborn, paired with revised rules for mental health screening among new mothers. The proposal follows the trial of Lindsay Clancy, a case that drew attention to gaps in how the state handles postpartum mental illness.

Under the plan, nurses would visit homes after a birth to check on both the parent and the child, offering guidance on feeding, recovery, and emotional wellbeing. The visits would be available at no cost, removing a barrier that has kept many families from seeking early support. Healey also wants to update the standards used to screen new mothers for conditions such as postpartum depression and anxiety, so that warning signs are caught sooner and treated before they escalate.

Supporters say the measure could reshape how the state approaches the weeks after childbirth, a period when many parents struggle in silence. The proposal now moves to the legislature, where lawmakers will weigh funding and implementation details. If approved, Massachusetts would join a small group of states offering universal postpartum home visits.