(a) By July 1, 2019, a health care service plan shall develop a maternal mental health program designed to promote quality and cost-effective outcomes. The program shall be developed consistent with sound clinical principles and processes. The program guidelines and criteria shall be made available upon request to medical providers, including a contracting obstetric provider.
(b) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
(1) “Contracting obstetric provider” means an individual who is certified or 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 contracted with the enrollee’s health care service plan to provide services under the enrollee’s plan contract.
(2) “Maternal mental health” means a mental health condition that occurs during pregnancy or during the postpartum period and includes, but is not limited to, postpartum depression.
(c) This section shall not apply to specialized health care service plans, except specialized behavioral health-only plans offering professional mental health services.
(Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 755, Sec. 1. (AB 2193) Effective January 1, 2019.)