Public Act 101-0512
 
HB3511 EnrolledLRB101 10991 CPF 56175 b

    AN ACT concerning health.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the the
Maternal Mental Health Conditions Education, Early Diagnosis,
and Treatment Act.
 
    Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds the
following:
        (1) Maternal depression is a common complication of
    pregnancy. Maternal mental health disorders encompass a
    range of mental health conditions, such as depression,
    anxiety, and postpartum psychosis.
        (2) Maternal mental health conditions affect one in 5
    women during or after pregnancy, but all women are at risk
    of suffering from maternal mental health conditions.
        (3) Untreated maternal mental health conditions
    significantly and negatively impact the short-term and
    long-term health and well-being of affected women and their
    children.
        (4) Untreated maternal mental health conditions cause
    adverse birth outcomes, impaired maternal-infant bonding,
    poor infant growth, childhood emotional and behavioral
    problems, and significant medical and economic costs,
    estimated to be $22,500 per mother.
        (5) Lack of understanding and social stigma of mental
    health conditions prevent women and families from
    understanding the signs, symptoms, and risks involved with
    maternal mental health conditions and disproportionately
    affect women who lack access to social support networks.
        (6) It is the intent of the General Assembly to raise
    awareness of the risk factors, signs, symptoms, and
    treatment options for maternal mental health conditions
    among pregnant women and their families, the general
    public, primary health care providers, and health care
    providers who care for pregnant women, postpartum women,
    and newborn infants.
 
    Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:
    "Birthing hospital" means a hospital that has an approved
obstetric category of service and licensed beds by the Health
Facilities and Services Review Board.
    "Department" means the Department of Human Services.
    "Maternal mental health condition" means a mental health
condition that occurs during pregnancy or during the postpartum
period and includes, but is not limited to, postpartum
depression.
 
    Section 15. Educational materials about maternal mental
health conditions. The Department shall develop educational
materials for health care professionals and patients about
maternal mental health conditions. A birthing hospital shall,
on or before January 1, 2021, distribute these materials to
employees regularly assigned to work with pregnant or
postpartum women and incorporate these materials in any
employee training that is related to patient care of pregnant
or postpartum women. A birthing hospital shall supplement the
materials provided by the Department to include relevant
resources to the region or community in which the birthing
hospital is located. The educational materials developed under
this Section shall include all of the following:
        (1) Information for postpartum women and families
    about maternal mental health conditions, post-hospital
    treatment options, and community resources.
        (2) Information for hospital employees regularly
    assigned to work in the perinatal unit, including, as
    appropriate, registered nurses and social workers, about
    maternal mental health conditions.
        (3) Any other service the birthing hospital determines
    should be included in the program to provide optimal
    patient care.