What's happening
This bill requires the NY Health Commissioner to consult with addiction services to update and publish guidance on maternal depression screenings and related provider training.
Why it matters
Adds addiction expertise to maternal mental health policy. By requiring the Health Commissioner to consult with the Office of Addiction Services and Supports, the bill ensures that substance use disorders are specifically considered in the development of maternal depression screening guidance, reflecting the interconnectedness of addiction and perinatal mental health.
Expands screening scope to address broader social determinants. The bill mandates that maternal depression screening guidance also include best practices for screening related social needs (e.g., housing, food insecurity, intimate partner violence), which can contribute to or worsen maternal depression, promoting a more holistic approach to maternal mental health.
Enhances provider training and resource dissemination. It strengthens requirements for identifying and sharing training programs on maternal depression, including topics like health equity, implicit bias, and trauma-informed care, aiming to improve provider competence and patient outcomes.
Delays implementation timeline. The bill extends the law’s effective date from 180 days to 18 months, allowing more time for stakeholder input, development of guidance, and preparation by health systems and providers before the new requirements take effect.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Improve Maternal Depression Screening
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Signed chap.42
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- 3rd reading cal.76
- Substituted for S802
- Referred to rules
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.29
- Rules report cal.29
- Reported
Show 2 earlier actions
- Reported referred to rules
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Improve Maternal Depression Screenings
Senate Floor Calendar · Sponsor Samra Brouk
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1025
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. SOLAGES -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring the commissioner of health to consult with the office of addiction services and supports to publish certain guidance on maternal depression screenings, and to amend a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the public health law relating to maternal depression screenings, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 2039-B and A.
2870-B, in relation to the effectiveness thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 2500-k of the public health law, as added by a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the public health law relating to maternal depression screenings, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 2039-B and A. 2870-B, is amended to read as follows:
3. Maternal depression screenings. (a) The commissioner, in consultation with the office of mental health, the office of addiction services and supports, and other relevant stakeholders as determined by the commissioner, shall [develop and] publish guidance [and standards] for incorporating maternal depression screenings into routine perinatal care. This guidance shall include, but not be limited to, recommendations and best practices related to:
(i) when maternal health care providers should initiate maternal depression screenings and how often such screenings should be repeated throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period;
(ii) screening for social needs that may contribute to maternal depression such as social support, intimate partner violence, food and housing insecurity, diaper insecurity, and barriers to appropriate healthcare;
(iii) screening for substance use disorders;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02804-01-5
(iv) referrals for appropriate follow-up evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment; and
(v) reimbursement methodologies to incentivize provider participation.
(b) The commissioner, in consultation with the office of mental health, the office of addiction services and supports, and other relevant stakeholders as determined by the commissioner, shall identify existing information and training programs designed to [support] inform providers in an effort to promote maternal depression screening and treatment, and publish the links to such information and training programs on the department's website. The identified information and training programs shall include the following topics:
(i) health equity;
(ii) implicit bias and cultural competency;
(iii) screening, referral and treatment options;
(iv) patient resources and available services;
(v) patients' rights;
(vi) pharmacotherapy;
(vii) trauma-informed, patient-centered care; and
(viii) other topics as identified by the commissioner.
§ 2. Section 3 of a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the public health law relating to maternal depression screenings, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 2039-B and A. 2870-B, is amended to read as follows:
§ 3. This act shall take effect [on the one hundred eightieth day] eighteen months after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that section one of this act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the public health law relating to maternal depression screenings, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 2039-B and A. 2870-B, takes effect.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.