Today's Law As Amended


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AB-2193 Maternal mental health.(2017-2018)



As Amends the Law Today
As Amends the Law on Nov 08, 2018


SECTION 1.

 Section 1367.625 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

1367.625.
 (a) By July 1, 2019, a health care service plan shall develop a maternal mental health program designed to promote quality and cost-effective outcomes. The program shall be developed consistent with sound clinical principles and processes. The program guidelines and criteria shall be made available upon request to medical providers, including a contracting obstetric provider.
(b) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
(1) “Contracting obstetric provider” means an individual who is certified or licensed pursuant to Division 2 (commencing with Section 500) of the Business and Professions Code, or an initiative act referred to in that division, and who is contracted with the enrollee’s health care service plan to provide services under the enrollee’s plan contract.
(2) “Maternal mental health” means a mental health condition that occurs during pregnancy or during the postpartum period and includes, but is not limited to, postpartum depression.
(c) This section shall not apply to specialized health care service plans, except specialized behavioral health-only plans offering professional mental health services.

SEC. 2.

 Article 6 (commencing with Section 123640) is added to Chapter 2 of Part 2 of Division 106 of the Health and Safety Code, to read:

Article  6. Maternal Mental Health
123640.
 (a) By July 1, 2019, a licensed health care practitioner who provides prenatal or postpartum care for a patient shall ensure that the mother is offered screening or is appropriately screened for maternal mental health conditions.
(b) This section shall not apply to a licensed health care practitioner when providing emergency services or care, as defined in Section 1317.1.
(c) This section does not preclude any licensed or certified provider acting within his or her scope of practice from screening for maternal mental health conditions.
(d) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) “Maternal mental health condition” means a mental health condition that occurs during pregnancy or during the postpartum period and includes, but is not limited to, postpartum depression.
(2) “Health care practitioner” means a physician and surgeon, naturopathic doctor, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, nurse midwife, or a midwife licensed pursuant to Division 2 (commencing with Section 500) of the Business and Professions Code or an initiative act referred to in that division and who is acting within his or her scope of practice.

SEC. 3.

 Section 10123.867 is added to the Insurance Code, to read:

10123.867.
 (a) By July 1, 2019, a health insurer shall develop a maternal mental health program designed to promote quality and cost-effective outcomes. The program shall be developed consistent with sound clinical principles and processes. The program guidelines and criteria shall be made available upon request to medical providers, including a contracting obstetric provider.
(b) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
(1) “Contracting obstetric provider” means an individual who is certified or licensed pursuant to Division 2 (commencing with Section 500) of the Business and Professions Code, or an initiative act referred to in that division, and who is contracted with the insured’s health insurer to provide services under the insured’s health insurance policy.
(2) “Maternal mental health” means a mental health condition that occurs during pregnancy or during the postpartum period and includes, but is not limited to, postpartum depression.
(c) This section shall not apply to specialized health insurers, except behavioral health-only insurers that provide coverage for professional mental health services.
SEC. 4.
 No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.