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| Public Act 101-0512 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning health.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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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.
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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.
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