Resolve, To Direct the Department of Health and Human Services To Review and Report on Efforts Concerning Postpartum Mental Health Education

Sec. 1. Work group. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall convene, in coordination with the Maine Primary Care Association, a work group that will review existing efforts in Maine concerning education and screening for postpartum depression. In addition to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Maine Primary Care Association, the work group must include the Maine Medical Association; the Perinatal Mental Health Alliance of Southern Maine; Southern Maine Medical Center; Mid Coast Hospital; the Postpartum Support Center of Maine; Postpartum Support International, Maine Chapter; other related advocacy groups; and representatives of medical and mental health professionals and groups as well as hospitals with expertise in primary or family care, obstetrics, gynecology, pediatrics, postpartum depression and other interested parties; and be it further

Sec. 2. Charge of work group. Resolved: That the work group under section 1 shall review efforts for screening and education related to postpartum depression, including but not limited to:

1. Projects initiated by health care providers aimed at the early screening and treatment of depression, including but not limited to the projects of Maine Medical Center's outpatient clinics and health care system; St. Mary's Regional Medical Center; MaineGeneral Health; the Federally Qualified Health Centers, as determined by the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Licensing and Regulatory Services; the Maine Health Access Foundation; the Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, MaineCare and adult and children's mental health offices; and health care providers in obstetrics and gynecology practices and pediatrics;

2. The Maine Health Access Foundation's study on barriers to integration of mental health care into health care settings, including regulatory, licensing and reimbursement barriers to the provision of screening and treatment of postpartum depression and other mental health disorders;

3. Ongoing efforts for screening within the Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children and the department's home visiting program and the department's public health and mental health work group's assessment of screening tools for mental health and recommendations for tracking, education and treatment; and

4. Projects implemented in New York, Illinois, New Jersey, New Hampshire and other states, with a description of programs, tools, implementation strategies, results and funding sources; and be it further

Sec. 3. Report. Resolved: That the work group under section 1 shall provide a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services with findings and recommendations, including any necessary legislation, for changes in regulations, standards and policies no later than January 15, 2008. The joint standing committee is authorized to submit legislation related to the subject matter of the report to the Second Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature.