§ 2500-k. Maternal depression. * 1. Definitions. As used in this
section:

(a) "Maternal depression" means a wide range of emotional and
psychological reactions a woman may experience during pregnancy or after
childbirth. These reactions may include, but are not limited to,
feelings of despair or extreme guilt, prolonged sadness, lack of energy,
difficulty concentrating, fatigue, extreme changes in appetite, and
thoughts of suicide or of harming the baby. Maternal depression may
include prenatal depression, the "baby blues," postpartum depression, or
postpartum psychosis -- the severest form.

(b) "Maternal health care provider" means a physician, midwife, nurse
practitioner, or physician assistant, or other health care practitioner
acting within his or her lawful scope of practice, attending a pregnant
woman or a woman up to one year after childbirth, including a
practitioner attending the woman's child up to one year after
childbirth.

* NB Effective until June 19, 2025

* 1. Definitions. As used in this section:

(a) "Maternal depression" means a wide range of emotional and
psychological reactions an individual may experience throughout
pregnancy and the postpartum period. These reactions may include, but
are not limited to, feelings of despair or extreme guilt, prolonged
sadness, lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, extreme
changes in appetite, and thoughts of suicide or of harming the baby.
Maternal depression may include prenatal depression, perinatal mood and
anxiety disorder, the "baby blues," postpartum depression, or postpartum
psychosis.

(b) "Maternal health care provider" means a physician, midwife, nurse
practitioner, or physician assistant, or other health care practitioner
acting within his or her lawful scope of practice, attending a perinatal
individual, including any practitioner attending the individual's child,
from conception up to one year postpartum.

* NB Effective June 19, 2025

2. Maternal depression information. (a) The commissioner, in
consultation with the commissioner of mental health, shall make
available to maternal health care providers information on maternal
depression. The information shall include, but not be limited to:

(i) a summary of the current evidence base and professional guidelines
for maternal depression screening;

(ii) validated, evidence-based tools for maternal depression
screening;

(iii) information about follow-up support for patients who may require
further evaluation, referral, or treatment including, when available,
information about specific community resources and entities licensed by
the office of mental health; and

(iv) information on engaging support for the mother, which may include
communicating with the other parent of the child and other family
members, as appropriate and consistent with patient confidentiality.

(b) The information on maternal depression shall be posted on the
department's website. The commissioner shall, in collaboration with the
commissioner of mental health, update and review the information on
maternal depression, as necessary.

* 3. Maternal depression treatment. The commissioner, in consultation
with the commissioner of mental health, shall:

(a) inform providers of the need to raise awareness about maternal
depression; and

(b) provide information on the department's and office of mental
health's websites regarding how to locate available providers who treat
or provide support for maternal depression including, but not limited
to, mental health professionals, other licensed professionals, peer
support, not-for-profit corporations and other community resources.

* NB Effective until June 19, 2025

* 3. Maternal depression screenings. (a) The commissioner, in
consultation with the office of mental health, and other relevant
stakeholders, shall develop and publish guidance and standards for
incorporating maternal depression screenings into routine perinatal
care. This guidance shall include, but not be limited to,
recommendations and best practices related to:

(i) when maternal health care providers should initiate maternal
depression screenings and how often such screenings should be repeated
throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period;

(ii) screening for social needs that may contribute to maternal
depression such as social support, intimate partner violence, food and
housing insecurity, diaper insecurity, and barriers to appropriate
healthcare;

(iii) screening for substance use disorders;

(iv) referrals for appropriate follow-up evaluation, diagnosis, and
treatment; and

(v) reimbursement methodologies to incentivize provider participation.

(b) The commissioner, in consultation with the office of mental
health, and other relevant stakeholders, shall identify existing
information and training programs designed to support maternal
depression screening and treatment, and publish the links to such
information and training programs on the department's website. The
identified information and training programs shall include the following
topics:

(i) health equity;

(ii) implicit bias and cultural competency;

(iii) screening, referral and treatment options;

(iv) patient resources and available services;

(v) patients' rights;

(vi) pharmacotherapy;

(vii) trauma-informed, patient-centered care; and

(viii) other topics as identified by the commissioner.

* NB Effective June 19, 2025

* 4. The commissioner shall make any regulations necessary to
implement this section.

* NB Effective until June 19, 2025

* 4. Maternal depression treatment. The commissioner, in consultation
with the commissioner of mental health, shall:

(a) inform providers of the need to raise awareness about maternal
depression; and

(b) provide information on the department's and office of mental
health's websites regarding how to locate available providers who treat
or provide support for maternal depression including, but not limited
to, mental health professionals, other licensed professionals, peer
support, not-for-profit corporations and other community resources.

* NB Effective June 19, 2025

* 5. The commissioner shall make any regulations necessary to
implement this section.

* NB Effective June 19, 2025