Maternal mental health.

Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health within the California Health and Human Services Agency to develop and maintain a statewide community-based comprehensive perinatal services program to, among other things, ensure the appropriate level of maternal, newborn, and pediatric care services necessary to provide the healthiest outcomes for mothers and infants. Existing law also requires the department, until January 1, 2023, to investigate and apply for federal funding opportunities to support maternal mental health. Existing law requires, by July 1, 2019, licensed health care practitioners providing prenatal or postpartum care to screen or offer to screen mothers for maternal mental health conditions, and health care service plans and health insurers to develop maternal mental health programs, as specified. Existing law also requires, by January 1, 2020, each general acute care hospital with a perinatal unit to develop and implement a program to provide education and information to postpartum women, families, and specified hospital employees regarding maternal mental health conditions, including postpartum depression. This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to address the shortage of treatment options for women suffering from maternal mental health disorders, including postpartum depression and anxiety disorders. This bill would create a pilot program, in the 10 largest counties by population, designed to increase the capacity of health care providers that serve pregnant and postpartum women up to one year after delivery to effectively prevent, identify, and manage postpartum depression and other mental health conditions. The pilot program would be coordinated by the State Department of Public Health and be privately funded. The bill would require the department to submit a report to the Legislature regarding the pilot program 6 months after the results of the pilot program are reported, as specified. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2025. Because the bill would require the 10 largest counties by population to participate in the program, 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.