(a) By July 1, 2019, a licensed health care practitioner who provides prenatal or postpartum care for a patient shall ensure that the mother is offered screening or is appropriately screened for maternal mental health conditions.
(b) This section shall not apply to a licensed health care practitioner when providing emergency services or care, as defined in Section 1317.1.
(c) This section does not preclude any licensed or certified provider acting within his or her scope of practice from screening for maternal mental health conditions.
(d) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) “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.
(2) “Health care practitioner” means a physician and surgeon, naturopathic doctor, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, nurse midwife, or a midwife licensed pursuant to Division 2 (commencing with Section 500) of the Business and Professions Code or an initiative act referred to in that division and who is acting within his or her scope of practice.
(Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 755, Sec. 2. (AB 2193) Effective January 1, 2019.)