UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1302
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AN ACT relating to postpartum depression care. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
ď˘SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 211 IS CREATED TO 3
READ AS FOLLOWS: 4
(1) The Cabinet for Health and Family Services shall, in cooperation with maternal 5
health and mental health professional societies: 6
(a) Develop written information on postpartum depression and make it 7
available on its website for access by birthing centers, hospitals that provide 8
labor and delivery services, and the public; 9
(b) Provide access on its website to one (1) or more evidence-based clinical 10
assessment tools designed to detect the symptoms of postpartum depression 11
or other pregnancy-related mental health disorders for use by health care 12
providers providing postnatal care and health care providers providing 13
pediatric infant care; 14
(c) Promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter 15
13A for all birthing centers and hospitals that provide labor and delivery 16
services to ensure that all such facilities: 17
1. Follow evidence-based guidelines for screening for postpartum 18
depression or other pregnancy-related mental health disorders; and 19
2. Provide appropriate evidence-based treatment for postpartum 20
depression or other pregnancy-related mental health disorders, or 21
have an appropriate referral plan to make such treatment available to 22
patients for whom it is indicated; and 23
(d) Periodically review and update any administrative regulations related to 24
screening for, and the treatment of, postpartum depression or other 25
pregnancy-related mental health disorders, at an interval of no less than 26
once every twenty-four (24) months. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1302
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(2) The Cabinet for Health and Family Services shall develop and implement a 1
collaborative program incorporating health care facilities that provide obstetrical 2
and newborn care, individual health care providers, and other stakeholders for 3
the purposes of: 4
(a) Improving the quality of prevention and treatment of postpartum depression 5
and other pregnancy-related mental health disorders; and 6
(b) Promoting the implementation of evidence-based bundles of care to improve 7
patient safety. 8
(3) The requirements of subsection (2) of this section may be met by incorporating 9
the requirements into other programs administered by the Cabinet for Health and 10
Family Services that are intended to improve maternal health care quality and 11
safety. 12