HF 2980

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 03/29/2012 12:25pm

A bill for an act
relating to health; requiring development of public education for and a plan to
reduce the prevalence of maternal depression; requiring the commissioners of
human services and health to provide technical assistance related to maternal
depression screening and referrals; amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections
145.906; 256B.04, by adding a subdivision.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 145.906, is amended to read:

145.906 POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION EDUCATION AND INFORMATION.

(a) The commissioner of health shall work with health care facilities, licensed health
and mental health care professionals, new text begin the women, infants, and children (WIC) program,
new text end mental health advocates, consumers, and families in the state to develop materials and
information about postpartum depression, including treatment resources, and develop
policies and procedures to comply with this section.

(b) Physicians, traditional midwives, and other licensed health care professionals
providing prenatal care to women must have available to women and their families
information about postpartum depression.

(c) Hospitals and other health care facilities in the state must provide departing new
mothers and fathers and other family members, as appropriate, with written information
about postpartum depression, including its symptoms, methods of coping with the illness,
and treatment resources.

new text begin (d) Information about postpartum depression, including its symptoms, potential
impact on families, and treatment resources, must be available at WIC sites.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 256B.04, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 22. new text end

new text begin Maternal depression screening and referral. new text end

new text begin The commissioner, with
the commissioner of health, shall provide technical assistance to health care providers,
to improve maternal depression screening and referral rates for medical assistance and
MinnesotaCare enrollees. The technical assistance must include, but is not limited to,
the provision of information on culturally competent practice, administrative and legal
liability issues, and best practices for discussing mental health issues with patients.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin INSTRUCTIONS TO THE COMMISSIONERS; PLAN.
new text end

new text begin By January 15, 2013, the commissioners of human services, health, and education
shall develop a joint plan to reduce the prevalence of parental depression and other serious
mental illness and the potential impact of unaddressed parental mental illness on children.
This plan must include specific goals, outcomes, and recommended measures to determine
the impact of interventions on the incidence of maternal depression and child well-being,
including early childhood screening and the school readiness of high-risk children. The
plan shall address ways to encourage a multi-generational approach to adult mental
health and child well-being in public health, health care, adult and child mental health,
child welfare, and other relevant programs and policies, and include recommendations to
increase public awareness about untreated maternal depression and its potential harmful
impact on children.
new text end