BILL NUMBER: AB 159 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 25, 2009
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2009
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Nava
( Coauthors: Assembly Members
Ammiano, Carter, Conway, De
Leon, Fletcher, Gaines, Hall,
Jones, Bonnie Lowenthal, V. Manuel Perez,
and Audra Strickland )
JANUARY 27, 2009
An act to add Section 123612 to the Health and Safety Code,
relating to perinatal health care, and making an appropriation
therefor.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 159, as amended, Nava. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders:
task force.
Existing law establishes various programs relating to perinatal
health, including a comprehensive perinatal outreach program
targeting the health effects of drugs and alcohol, the development of
regionalized perinatal health systems, and the development of a
model needs assessment protocol for pregnant and postpartum substance
abusing women.
This bill would permit the State Department of Public Health
, in conjunction with the State Department of Mental Health,
to establish a task force, as prescribed, to address
specified issues relating to perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
to develop recommendations and educational materials
for the department's perinatal health programs .
This bill would permit the State Department of Public Health to
use nonpublic contributions to carry out the purposes of this bill.
This bill would, if the department creates the task force, create the
California Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders Awareness Fund and
permit voluntary contributions to be deposited into the fund. This
bill would continuously appropriate the money in the fund to the
department to carry out the purposes of this bill.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. This act shall be known, and may be cited, as The
Healthy Mothers Act of 2009.
SEC. 2. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders occur during
both pregnancy and the postpartum period. A perinatal
mood and anxiety disorder (PMAD) is a mood and anxiety disorder that
occurs during pregnancy or within a year of delivery (postpartum).
These disorders can take many forms, including depression,
psychosis, and anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder or
obsessive-compulsive disorder. These disorders can also include many
levels of severity, which can have potentially serious repercussions
for the emotional, social, and physical health and well-being of
mothers, children, and families. Therefore, "perinatal mood
and anxiety disorder" (PMAD) is a more appropriate term for
describing these afflictions because it provides a broader and more
accurate description of the afflictions.
(b) National studies indicate that one in five women suffer from
PMAD. Eighty percent of these women go undiagnosed and untreated.
(c)
(b) Between 10 percent and 20 percent of new mothers
are affected with by PMAD. A mother
afflicted with PMAD may experience symptoms, that include, but are
not limited to, depressed mood, inability to find pleasure in
activities that are usually engaging, sleep disturbances, diminished
concentration, appetite and weight loss, anxiety and panic attacks,
feelings of guilt and worthlessness, suicidal thoughts, and fears
about harming her baby.
(d)
(c) One to two out of every 1,000 new mothers can
experience postpartum psychosis. A new mother with postpartum
psychosis may begin with have symptoms
that include, but are not limited to, manic states, hyperactivity, an
inability to sleep, and avoidance of the baby. The disorder can then
lead to additional symptoms for the new mother, that include, but
are not limited to, delusions, hallucinations, incoherence, and
thoughts of harming her baby or herself.
(e)
(d) A past history of nonpostpartum mood or anxiety
disorders and a family history of mood or anxiety disorders increases
the risk of PMAD.
(f)
(e) Many women are not adequately informed about,
screened for, or treated for PMAD because they are uninsured,
underinsured, or lack access to comprehensive health care. Many of
these women also face cultural and linguistic barriers to receiving
appropriate care. The stigma associated with PMAD also prevents many
at-risk women from accepting the need for services and treatment for
their disorder. These services and treatment can include medical
evaluations and treatment, professional therapy, counseling, support
groups, and crisis hotlines. It is also imperative that family and
friends of a pregnant woman or new mother become aware of the signs
and symptoms of PMAD so that they may help the pregnant woman or new
mother obtain adequate medical treatment and support services.
SEC. 3. Section 123612 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to
read:
123612. (a) For purposes of this section, "PMAD" means perinatal
mood and anxiety disorders.
(b) The State Department of Public Health , in conjunction
with the State Department of Mental Health, may establish and
convene a statewide perinatal mood and anxiety disorders task force
to develop a best practices model for public awareness of
PMAD and a standard of care for PMAD that may be used by physicians,
medical centers, hospitals, and other organizations related to the
medical field. recommendations and educational
materials for the department's perinatal health programs.
(c) If the department creates the task force, pursuant to
subdivision (b), all of the following provisions shall apply:
(1) The task force membership shall consist of both
each of the following:
(A) A survivor of PMAD , to be appointed by the Governor
.
(B) A representative from each of the following:
(i) The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
District IX/CA, to be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly
.
(ii) The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
, to be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly .
(iii) The California Association of Nurse Practitioners , to
be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly .
(iv) The California Hospital Association , to be
appointed by the Senate Co mmittee on Rules .
(v) The California Medical Association , to be appointed by
the Senate Committee on Rules .
(vi) The California Nurse Midwives Association , to be
appointed by the Governor .
(vii) The California Nurses Association , to be appointed by
the Senate Committee on Rules .
(viii) The California Psychiatric Association , to
be appointed by the Governor .
(ix) The State Public Affairs Committee of the Junior Leagues of
California , to be appointed by the Governor .
(x) Postpartum Support International , to be appointed by the
Governor.
(xi) The Union of American Physicians and Dentists, to be
appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.
(xii) The United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health
Care Professionals, to be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
(2) The task force may do the following:
(A) Increase awareness, assistance,
awareness and provide assistance and information regarding
PMAD. The task force may disseminate to pregnant women and new
mothers and the families of these women information regarding the
availability of services and treatment for PMAD, including, but not
limited to, medication, professional therapy and counseling, support
groups, and telephone crisis hotlines. The task force may use
television, print media, radio, Internet Web sites, outdoor
advertising, and other appropriate media to accomplish these goals.
(B) Establish a publicly accessible Internet Web site that
provides information about the symptoms and treatment of PMAD.
(C) Undertake public education activities related to PMAD, as
appropriate.
(D) Establish a recommended standard of care for pregnant women
and new mothers and the families of these women. This standard of
care may include promoting universal depression screening, increasing
women's access to mental health services, increasing education and
training for prenatal care providers and mental health providers, and
increasing perinatal mental health resources.
(D) Identify national guidelines for care of women with PMAD.
(E) Identify barriers to screening and treatment of women with
PMAD and options for reducing those barriers.
(3) The department shall be responsible for forwarding any
recommendations of the task force to the Legislature, the Governor,
and to all county health departments.
(4) The department may use only nonpublic funding sources to
support the activities of the task force. Voluntary contributions
received for the purposes of this section shall be deposited into a
separate account, the California Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders
Awareness Fund, which is hereby created in the State Treasury. Any
repayments, interest, or new appropriation shall be deposited in the
fund, notwithstanding Section 16305.7 of the Government Code.
(d) Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, all
moneys in the fund shall be continuously appropriated to the
department to carry out the purposes of this section.