An Act Concerning Postpartum Mental Health Education
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0792
Committee Amendment CA_A_S111 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 241, L.D. 792, Bill, "An Act 
Concerning Postpartum Mental Health Education" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, To Direct the Department of Health and Human Services To 
Review and Report on Efforts Concerning Postpartum Mental Health 
Education' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and 
inserting the following: 
'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: 
I 
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 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~.,. 
... 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 241, L.D. 792 
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.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill and requires the Department of Health and Human 
Services to convene, in coordination with the Maine Primary Care Association, a work 
group that will review existing efforts in Maine and projects in other states concerning 
education and screening for postpartum depression. The bill specifies projects that mlist 
be included in the review and requires the work group to report findings and 
recommendations including legislation by January 15,2008. The bill authorizes the Joint 
Standing Committee on Health and Human Services to submit legislation to the Second 
Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 05/07/07 frac:.. 
LD792 
LR 319(02) 
An Act Concerning Postpartum Mental Health Education 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment /4 " 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
The additional costs associated with the workgroup concerning education and screening for postpartum depression can 
be absorbed by the Department of Health and Human Services utilizing existing budgeted resources. 
LR0319(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1