Gov. Healey calls for new investments in postpartum healthcare after Lindsay Clancy trial, tell me about this news in (https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/massachusetts-healey-postpartum-healthcare-lindsay-clancy-trial/)
16-09-2026
Following the high-profile Lindsay Clancy trial, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced a series of proposed investments and regulatory changes aimed at strengthening postpartum care and maternal mental healthcare across the state.Key details from the report include:
- In-Home Nurse Visits: Healey proposed a $2 million expansion for a program providing new families with an at-home nurse visit. While the service previously reached about 3,000 families annually, the additional funding is intended to expand access statewide to help reach more of the approximately 68,000 newborns delivered each year in Massachusetts.
- Maternal Mental Health Funding: The plan calls for $250,000 dedicated directly to maternal mental health programming.
- Screening Regulations: The administration plans to introduce updated state regulations regarding maternal mental health screenings, working with clinicians to standardize definitions of the postpartum period and determine necessary clinical supports.
- Context and Next Steps: The announcement came after the trial of Lindsay Clancy, which drew widespread attention to postpartum mental illness and ended in a mistrial. The proposed funds will be submitted as part of an upcoming supplemental budget request, which requires approval from the Massachusetts state legislature.