Bill Text: CA AB3003 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Maternal mental health: perinatal services.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-05-18 - In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author. [AB3003 Detail]

Download: California-2019-AB3003-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Assembly  May 04, 2020

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 3003

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Introduced by Assembly Member Cervantes

February 21, 2020

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

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 3003, as amended, Cervantes. Maternal mental health. health: perinatal services.

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 requires the State Department of Public Health to license and regulate specified health facilities, including a general acute care hospital, a special hospital, and other types of specialized facilities. Existing law defines a perinatal unit as a maternity and newborn service of a hospital for the provision of care during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum and neonatal periods, as specified. Existing law requires a general acute care hospital or special hospital that has a perinatal unit to develop and implement a program relating to maternal mental health conditions including, but not limited to, postpartum depression. Existing law requires that program to include, among other things, education and information about maternal mental health conditions for women, families, and hospital perinatal unit employees, as specified.

Existing law requires a licensed health care practitioner who provides prenatal or postpartum care for a patient to ensure that the mother is offered screening or is appropriately screened for maternal mental health conditions.

This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to address the shortage of treatment options for women suffering from maternal mental health disorders, including postpartum depression and anxiety disorders.

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 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 address the shortage of treatment options for women suffering from maternal mental health disorders, including postpartum depression and anxiety disorders.