This week, as part of the debate over healthcare reform, the U.S. Senate passed an amendment to Senator Harry Reid's healthcare bill that would support funding for postpartum depression screening.

Thisamendment, led by Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), is unrelated to andseparate from the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act, which does not include screening for postpartum depression among its provisions. (The Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act was passed by the U.S. House by is still stuck in committee in the Senate.)

As reported in the New York Timesyesterday:

"Under Ms. Mikulski’s proposal, a federal agency, the Health Resources and Services Administration, would develop “comprehensive guidelines” recommending preventive care and screenings for women, and insurers would have to cover the services without any cost-sharing.

Ms. Mikulski said the services would include screenings for breast, cervical, ovarian and lung cancer, heart disease and diabetes, as well as postpartum depression and domestic violence."