California Implementing Comprehensive Maternal Mental Health Requirements

California is implementing a suite of legislation to improve screening and treatment for maternal mental health disorders. Two key bills were signed on September 27, 2018. The first, which focuses on the role of screening provided by office-based obstetricians, goes into effect on July 1, 2019. The other, which focuses on the role of hospitals, goes into effect on January 1, 2020.

The first bill, Assembly Bill (AB)  2193, Maternal Mental Health Screening and Support, requires obstetric providers confirm that screening for maternal depression has occurred, or to screen women directly, at least once during pregnancy or the postpartum . . .