Prenatal and postnatal depression, etc.; importance of screening patients. (HB42)

Introduced By

Del. Ibraheem Samirah (D-Herndon) with support from co-patrons Del. Ken Plum (D-Reston), Del. Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke), and Sen. Joe Morrissey (D-Richmond)

Description

Health care providers; screening of patients for prenatal and postpartum depression; training. Directs the Board of Medicine to annually issue a communication to every practitioner licensed by the Board who provides primary, maternity, obstetrical, or gynecological health care services reiterating the standard of care pertaining to prenatal or postnatal depression or other depression and encouraging practitioners to screen every patient who is pregnant or who has been pregnant within the previous five years for prenatal or postnatal depression or other depression, as clinically appropriate. The bill requires the Board to include in such communication information about the factors that may increase susceptibility of certain patients to prenatal or postnatal depression or other depression, including racial and economic disparities, and to encourage providers to remain cognizant of the increased risk of depression for such patients. Read the Bill »

Outcome

History