Bill Text: CA AB1357 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Perinatal services: maternal mental health.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2022-01-10 - Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file. [AB1357 Detail]

Download: California-2021-AB1357-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Assembly  March 18, 2021

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 1357

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Introduced by Assembly Member Cervantes

February 19, 2021

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An act to amend Section 123490 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to perinatal health services.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 1357, as amended, Cervantes. Perinatal services: maternal mental health.

Existing law provides for the implementation by the State Department of Public Health of a statewide, comprehensive community‑based perinatal services program and requires the department to enter into contracts, grants, or agreements with health care providers to deliver those services in a coordinated effort, as specified, in medically underserved areas or areas with demonstrated need.

This bill would require the department, for purposes of that program, to develop and maintain on its internet website a referral network of community-based mental health providers and support services addressing postpartum depression, prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care, neonatal and infant care services, and support groups, to improve access to postpartum depression screening, referral, treatment, and support services in medically underserved areas and areas with demonstrated need.

Existing law finds and declares that prenatal care, delivery service, postpartum care, and neonatal and infant care are essential services necessary to assure maternal and infant health. Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to develop and maintain a statewide community-based comprehensive perinatal services program to, among other program objectives, ensure the appropriate level of maternal, newborn, and pediatric care services necessary to provide the healthiest outcome for mother and infant. Existing law, the Maternal Mental Health Conditions Education, Early Diagnosis, and Treatment Act, requires a general acute care hospital or special hospital that has a perinatal unit to develop and implement a program to provide education and information to appropriate health care professionals and patients about maternal mental health conditions.

This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to address the scarcity of mental health providers, to increase support services addressing, among other subjects, postpartum depression, prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care, and to improve access to postpartum depression screening, referral, treatment, and support services in medically underserved areas and areas with demonstrated need.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NOYES   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Section 123490 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

123490.

 (a)  The department shall develop and maintain a statewide comprehensive community-based perinatal services program and enter into contracts, grants, or agreements with health care providers to deliver these services in a coordinated effort to the extent permitted under federal law and regulation. These contracts, grants, or agreements shall be made in medically underserved areas or areas with demonstrated need. Nothing in this section shall be construed to This section does not prevent reallocation of resources or use of new moneys for the development of new community-based comprehensive perinatal systems in underserved areas or areas with demonstrated need, and supplementation of systems already in existence.

(b) For the purposes of this section, the department shall develop and maintain on its internet website a referral network of community-based mental health providers and support services addressing postpartum depression, prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care, neonatal and infant care services, and support groups, to improve access to postpartum depression screening, referral, treatment, and support services in the areas described in subdivision (a).

(b)

(c) As a condition of receiving funds from the Maternal and Child Health program, contractors shall bill the Medi-Cal program for services provided to Medi-Cal recipients.

SECTION 1.

It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to do all of the following:

(a)Address the scarcity of mental health providers.

(b)Increase support services addressing postpartum depression, prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care, neonatal and infant care services, and support groups.

(c)Improve access to postpartum depression screening, referral, treatment, and support services in medically underserved areas and areas with demonstrated need.