Health care providers would arrange depression screenings after childbirth

Health care providers would arrange maternal depression screenings. This covers patients giving birth at a birthing facility and their first postnatal visit. Providers must use the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale or another validated screening tool approved by the health commissioner. The screenings would take place before discharge and during the first postnatal visit within six weeks after birth. If enacted, the rule would start one year after becoming law.

Providers would record when a patient refuses a maternal depression screening. This applies to patients who refuse a maternal depression screening. A refusal could not be used to take action against the patient or deny care or services. Recording the refusal would relieve the provider of liability under the state education law provision named in the bill. If enacted, this rule would start one year after the bill becomes law.

Insurers would include these depression screenings in maternity care coverage. This applies to maternity coverage governed by the three insurance law sections listed in the bill. The screenings must follow the provider rule in the bill. If enacted, the rule would start one year after the bill becomes law and apply to policies issued, renewed, or changed on or after that date.

Insurers could not use their rules to limit patients' direct access to maternal depression screening and referral. Patients insured under this provision could choose a provider of pregnancy, reproductive, or child health care. Access, coverage, and provider choice would still follow the terms of the patient's insurance policy. If enacted, the rule would start one year after the bill becomes law and apply to policies issued, renewed, or changed on or after that date.