HB3511 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 10991 CPF 56175 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB3511

Introduced , by Rep. Mary E. Flowers

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Maternal Mental Health Conditions Education, Early Diagnosis, and Treatment Act. Provides that a general acute care hospital or special hospital that has a perinatal unit, in collaboration with medical staff, shall by January 1, 2021 develop and implement a program to provide education and information to appropriate health care professionals and patients about maternal mental health conditions. Provides that the educational program shall include: (i) education and information for postpartum women and families about maternal mental health conditions, post-hospital treatment options, and community resources; (ii) education and information for hospital employees regularly assigned to work in the perinatal unit, including, as appropriate, registered nurses and social workers, about maternal mental health conditions; and (iii) any other service the hospital determines should be included in the program to provide optimal patient care.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning health.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the the Maternal Mental Health Conditions Education, Early Diagnosis, and Treatment Act.

Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds the following:

(1) Maternal depression is a common complication of pregnancy. Maternal mental health disorders encompass a range of mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and postpartum psychosis.

(2) Maternal mental health conditions affect one in 5 women during or after pregnancy, but all women are at risk of suffering from maternal mental health conditions.

(3) Untreated maternal mental health conditions significantly and negatively impact the short-term and long-term health and well-being of affected women and their children.

(4) Untreated maternal mental health conditions cause adverse birth outcomes, impaired maternal-infant bonding, poor infant growth, childhood emotional and behavioral problems, and significant medical and economic costs, estimated to be $22,500 per mother.

(5) Lack of understanding and social stigma of mental health conditions prevent women and families from understanding the signs, symptoms, and risks involved with maternal mental health conditions and disproportionately affect women who lack access to social support networks.

(6) It is the intent of the General Assembly to raise awareness of the risk factors, signs, symptoms, and treatment options for maternal mental health conditions among pregnant women and their families, the general public, primary health care providers, and health care providers who care for pregnant women, postpartum women, and newborn infants.

Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"General acute care hospital" means a health facility having a duly constituted governing body with overall administrative and professional responsibility and an organized medical staff that provides 24-hour inpatient care, including the following basic services: medical, nursing, surgical, anesthesia, laboratory, radiology, pharmacy, and dietary services. A general acute care hospital may include more than one physical plant maintained and operated on separate premises. A general acute care hospital that exclusively provides acute medical rehabilitation center services, including at least physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, may provide for the required surgical and anesthesia services through a contract with another acute care hospital.

"Maternal mental health condition" means a mental health condition that occurs during pregnancy or during the postpartum period and includes, but is not limited to, postpartum depression.

"Perinatal unit" is a maternity and newborn service of a hospital for the provision of care during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum and neonatal periods with appropriate staff, space, equipment, and supplies.

"Special hospital" means a health facility having a duly constituted governing body with overall administrative and professional responsibility and an organized medical or dental staff that provides inpatient or outpatient care in dentistry or maternity.

Section 15. Educational program about maternal mental health conditions. A general acute care hospital or special hospital that has a perinatal unit, in collaboration with medical staff, shall by January 1, 2021 develop and implement a program to provide education and information to appropriate health care professionals and patients about maternal mental health conditions. The educational program developed under this Section shall include all of the following:

(a) Education and information for postpartum women and families about maternal mental health conditions, post-hospital treatment options, and community resources.

(b) Education and information for hospital employees regularly assigned to work in the perinatal unit, including, as appropriate, registered nurses and social workers, about maternal mental health conditions.

(c) Any other service the hospital determines should be included in the program to provide optimal patient care.