2500-k. Maternal depression. 1. Definitions. As used in this section:
(a) "Maternal depression" means a wide range of emotional and psychological reactions a woman may experience during pregnancy or after childbirth. These reactions may include, but are not limited to, feelings of despair or extreme guilt, prolonged sadness, lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, extreme changes in appetite, and thoughts of suicide or of harming the baby. Maternal depression may include prenatal depression, the "baby blues," postpartum depression, or postpartum psychosis -- the severest form.
(b) "Maternal health care provider" means a physician, midwife, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant, or other health care practitioner acting within his or her lawful scope of practice, attending a pregnant woman or a woman up to one year after childbirth, including a practitioner attending the woman's child up to one year after childbirth.
2. Maternal depression information. (a) The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of mental health, shall make available to maternal health care providers information on maternal depression. The information shall include, but not be limited to:
(i) a summary of the current evidence base and professional guidelines for maternal depression screening;
(ii) validated, evidence-based tools for maternal depression screening;
(iii) information about follow-up support for patients who may require further evaluation, referral, or treatment including, when available, information about specific community resources and entities licensed by the office of mental health; and
(iv) information on engaging support for the mother, which may include communicating with the other parent of the child and other family members, as appropriate and consistent with patient confidentiality.
(b) The information on maternal depression shall be posted on the department's website. The commissioner shall, in collaboration with the commissioner of mental health, update and review the information on maternal depression, as necessary.
3. Maternal depression treatment. The commissioner, in collaboration with the commissioner of mental health, shall:
(a) compile a list of providers who treat or provide support for maternal depression including mental health professionals, other licensed professionals, peer support, not-for-profit corporations and other community resources. Such list shall be made available to the public on the department's website and be searchable by zip code;
(b) update the list of providers as necessary; and
(c) within existing appropriations, ensure adequate investment in treatment resources for maternal depression including a statewide hotline, peer support, adequate referral networks and telehealth or telemedicine services.
4. The commissioner shall make any regulations necessary to implement this section.
Last modified: February 3, 2019