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GA HB1068
Bill
Status
Introduced
2/22/2016
Primary Sponsor
Margaret Kaiser
Click for details
AI Summary
- Requires physicians, certified midwives, and other licensed health care professionals to counsel all mothers delivering in Georgia hospitals and birthing centers about postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis prior to discharge, including providing a fact sheet on symptoms and risks.
- Mandates screening of new mothers for postpartum depression using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale prior to discharge and at the first postnatal follow-up visit.
- Requires providers to refer mothers scoring 10 or higher on the screening scale to counseling, psychiatric treatment, or emergency psychiatric evaluation, including involuntary placement if acute suicidal or homicidal ideation is present.
- Screening results and referrals must be recorded in the mother's health record for no less than three years, and treatment for postpartum depression may be considered a mitigating factor in child protection or custody proceedings at a judge's discretion.
- Explicitly states that nothing in the act requires a mother to receive treatment, further psychological evaluation, or voluntary inpatient hospitalization.
Legislative Description
"Postpartum Depression Act"; enact
Last Action
House Second Readers
2/24/2016
Full Bill Text
No bill text available