Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 105 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH › Title 105 CMR 271.000 - Postpartum Depression Screening And Reporting › Section 271.003 - Definitions

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
As used in
				105 CMR 271.000, the
				following words have the following meanings:
Carrier
means an insurer licensed or
				otherwise authorized to transact accident or health insurance under M.G.L. c.
				175; a nonprofit hospital service corporation organized under M.G.L. c. 176A; a
				nonprofit medical service corporation organized under M.G.L. c. 176B; a health
				maintenance organization organized under M.G.L. c. 176G; and an organization
				entering into a preferred provider arrangement under M.G.L. c. 176I; but not
				including an employer purchasing coverage or acting on behalf of its employees
				or the employees of one or more subsidiaries or affiliated corporations of the
				employer; provided that, unless otherwise noted, the term "carrier'' shall not
				include any entity to the extent it offers a policy, certificate or contract
				that provides coverage solely for dental care services or vision care
				services.
Commissioner
means the Commissioner of
				the Department of Public Health.
Department
means the Department of
				Public Health.
Postpartum
means the period of time
				from the date of giving birth through six months after birth.
Postpartum Depression
means clinically
				significant physical, emotional, and behavioral changes: presenting in
				childbearing women following delivery with postpartum onset of symptoms of
				pronounced anxiety, depressed mood, despair or somatic symptoms observed or
				associated with postpartum parenting, which condition persists for a minimum of
				two weeks in an individual and requires medical or behavioral health care
				attention.
Provider
means a physician licensed
				under M.G.L. c. 112, § 2; a registered nurse licensed to practice and
				authorized to engage in an advanced practice as either a certified nurse
				practitioner or a certified nurse midwife pursuant to M.G.L. c. 112, §
				80B; or a registered physician assistant licensed pursuant to M.G.L. c. 112,
				§ 9I whose practice includes clinical encounters with postpartum
				patients.
Provider Organization
means any
				corporation, partnership, business trust, association or organized group of
				persons which is in the business of health care delivery or management, whether
				incorporated or not, that represents one or more health care providers in
				contracting with Carriers for the payments of heath care services including but
				not limited to physician organizations, physician-hospital organizations,
				independent practice associations, provider networks, accountable care
				organizations and any other organization that contracts with Carriers for
				payment for health care services.
Report
means an official notice to the
				Department in writing, by facsimile, or by electronic means.
Screening Tool
means a series of
				questions and observation protocols that comprise a formal instrument that has
				been validated and accepted clinically for identifying postpartum depression
				including but not limited to the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and
				similar tools identified by the Commissioner in her annual summary of effective
				screening tools.