Section 191.940

Title XII PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE

Chapter 191

Effective - 28 Aug 2020   

  191.940.  Citation of law — definitions — hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to provide information about postpartum depression. — 1.  This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Postpartum Depression Care Act".

  2.  As used in this section, the following terms shall mean:

  (1)  "Ambulatory surgical center", the same meaning as defined in section 197.200;

  (2)  "Health care provider", a physician licensed under chapter 334, an assistant physician or physician assistant licensed under chapter 334 and in a collaborative practice arrangement with a collaborating physician, and an advanced practice registered nurse licensed under chapter 335 and in a collaborative practice arrangement with a collaborating physician;

  (3)  "Hospital", the same meaning as defined in section 197.020;

  (4)  "Postnatal care", an office visit to a licensed health care provider occurring after pregnancy for the infant or birth mother;

  (5)  "Questionnaire", an assessment tool designed to detect the symptoms of postpartum depression or related mental health disorders, such as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Patient Health Questionnaire, or other validated assessment methods.

  3.  All hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers that provide labor and delivery services shall, prior to discharge following pregnancy, provide pregnant women and, if possible, fathers and other family members with complete information about postpartum depression, including its symptoms, methods of treatment, and available resources.  The department of health and senior services, in cooperation with the department of mental health, shall provide written information that hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers may use and shall include such information on its website.

  4.  It is the intent of the general assembly to encourage health care providers providing postnatal care to women and pediatric care to infants to invite women to complete a questionnaire designed to detect the symptoms of postpartum depression and to review the completed questionnaire in accordance with the formal opinions and recommendations of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to ensure the health, well-being, and safety of the woman and the infant.

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(L. 2020 H.B. 1682)