Bill Text: CA AB2193 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Maternal mental health.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2018-09-26 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 755, Statutes of 2018. [AB2193 Detail]
Download: California-2017-AB2193-Chaptered.html
| Assembly Bill No. 2193 |
| CHAPTER 755 |
An act to add Section 1367.625 to, and to add Article 6 (commencing with Section 123640) to Chapter 2 of Part 2 of Division 106 to, the Health and Safety Code, and to add Section 10123.867 to the Insurance Code, relating to health care.
[
Approved by
Governor
September 26, 2018.
Filed with
Secretary of State
September 26, 2018.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2193, Maienschein.
Maternal mental health.
Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of various healing arts professions, including, but not limited to, physicians and surgeons, by various boards within the Department of Consumer Affairs. Existing law imposes certain fines and other penalties for, and authorizes these boards to take disciplinary action against licensees for, violations of the provisions governing those professions.
This bill would require, by July 1, 2019, a licensed health care practitioner who provides prenatal or postpartum care for a patient to offer to screen or appropriately screen a mother for maternal mental health conditions.
Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care and
makes a willful violation of that act a crime. Existing law also provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law requires health care service plan contracts and health insurance policies that provide hospital, medical, or surgical coverage to provide coverage for the diagnosis and medically necessary treatment of severe mental illnesses, as defined, of a person of any age.
This bill would require health care service plans and health insurers, by July 1, 2019, to develop, consistent with sound clinical principles and processes, a maternal mental health program, as specified. Because a willful violation of the bill’s requirement by a health care service plan would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution
requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YESBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
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.
