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AN ACT relating to perinatal mental health. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
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
and infant health and mental health professional societies: 6
(a) Develop written information on perinatal mental health disorders and make 7
it available on its website for access by birthing centers, hospitals that 8
provide labor and delivery services, and the public; and 9
(b) Provide access on its website to one (1) or more evidence-based clinical 10
assessment tools designed to detect the symptoms of perinatal mental health 11
disorders for use by health care providers providing perinatal care and 12
health care providers providing pediatric infant care. 13
(2) The Cabinet for Health and Family Services shall establish a collaborative panel 14
composed of representatives of health care facilities that provide obstetrical and 15
newborn care, maternal and infant health care providers, maternal mental health 16
providers, representatives of university mental health training programs, 17
maternal health advocates, women with experience living with perinatal mental 18
health disorders, and other stakeholders for the purposes of: 19
(a) Improving the quality of prevention and treatment of perinatal mental 20
health disorders; 21
(b) Promoting the implementation of evidence-based bundles of care to improve 22
patient safety; 23
(c) Identifying unaddressed gaps in service related to perinatal mental health 24
disorders that are linked to geographic, racial, and ethnic inequalities; lack 25
of screenings; and insufficient access to treatments, professionals, or 26
support groups; and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS SB 135/GA
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SB013510.100 - 1302 - XXXX 2/24/2023 11:00 AM GA
(d) Exploring grant and other funding opportunities and making 1
recommendations for funding allocations to address the need for services 2
and supports for perinatal mental health disorders. 3
(3) The objectives set forth in subsection (2)(a) to (d) of this section may be achieved 4
by incorporating the panel's findings and recommendations into other programs 5
administered by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services that are intended to 6
improve maternal health care quality and safety. 7
(4) On or before November 1 of each year, the panel shall submit a report to the 8
Interim Joint Committee on Health, Welfare, and Family Services and the 9
Advisory Council for Medicaid Services describing the panel's work and any 10
recommendations to address identified gaps in services and supports for perinatal 11
mental health disorders. 12
Section 2. In the event the Legislative Research Commission dissolves the 13
Interim Joint Committee on Health, Welfare, and Family Services and establishes another 14
interim joint committee or multiple interim joint committees with jurisdiction over health 15
services or families and children, the report required in Section 1 of this Act shall be 16
submitted to that interim joint committee. 17