AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 1, 2019

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 14, 2019

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

95

CHAPTER 220

Statutes of 2019

[ Approved by Governor September 4, 2019. Filed with Secretary of State September 4, 2019. ]

Introduced by Assembly Member Maienschein

February 20, 2019

An act to add Section 2196.9 to the Business and Professions Code, relating to healing arts.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: yes   Local program: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of physicians and surgeons by the Medical Board of California within the Department of Consumer Affairs. Under that act, the board is required to adopt and administer standards for the continuing education of physicians and surgeons.

By July 1, 2019, existing law requires a licensed healthcare practitioner who provides prenatal or postpartum care for a patient to offer to screen or appropriately screen a mother for maternal mental health conditions. Existing law also requires a general acute care hospital or special hospital that has a perinatal unit to develop to implement, by January 1, 2020, a program relating to maternal mental health conditions including, but not limited to, postpartum depression.

This bill would require the board, in determining the continuing education requirements for physicians and surgeons, to consider including a course in maternal mental health, addressing, among other provisions, the requirements described above. The bill would require the board to periodically update any curricula developed pursuant to the bill to account for new research.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 2196.9 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:

2196.9.

(a) In determining its continuing education requirements for physicians and surgeons, the board shall consider including a course in maternal mental health, which shall address the following:

(1) Best practices in screening for maternal mental health disorders, including cultural competency and unintended bias as a means to build trust with mothers.

(2) The range of maternal mental health disorders.

(3) The range of evidence-based treatment options, including the importance of allowing a mother to be involved in developing the treatment plan.

(4) When an obstetrician or a primary care doctor should consult with a psychiatrist versus making a referral.

(5) Applicable requirements under Sections 123640 and 123616.5 of the Health and Safety Code.

(b) Subject to Section 2001.1, the board shall periodically update any curriculum developed pursuant to this section to account for new research.