2024 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Act 102 - PERINATAL AND POSTPARTUM EDUCATION ACT - ENACTMENT
An Act
Requiring information relating to perinatal or postpartum mood and anxiety disorders and resources to be provided to pregnant patients; and providing for powers and duties of the Department of Health.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Perinatal and Postpartum Education Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Birth center." As defined in section 802.1 of the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care Facilities Act.
"Department." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
"Hospital." As defined in section 802.1 of the Health Care Facilities Act.
"Midwife or nurse-midwife." As defined in section 2 of the act of December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the Medical Practice Act of 1985.
"Physician." Either:
(1) As defined in section 2 of the Medical Practice Act of 1985.
(2) As defined in section 2 of the act of October 5, 1978 (P.L.1109, No.261), known as the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act.
"PMAD." A perinatal or postpartum mood and anxiety disorder.
Section 3. Resource information.
(a) Duties.--A hospital, birth center, physician or midwife or nurse-midwife that provides care to a patient during gestation, stillbirth, delivery of an infant or postpartum may:
(1) Provide the patient with the fact sheet made available under section 4.
(2) Provide the patient with the resource list made available under section 4.
(b) Resources to other individuals.--The information provided to the patient under subsection (a) may be provided to any other individuals who accompany the patient to a well-baby visit, subject to the patient's consent, as well as to any other individuals that the patient may designate.
Section 4. Powers and duties of department.
The department shall:
(1) Make available on the department's publicly accessible Internet website a printable resource list of the names, addresses and telephone numbers of professional organizations that provide pregnancy counseling and assistance to parents, including organizations that provide prenatal counseling, postpartum counseling and assistance with PMAD. The department shall also make available a fact sheet that includes common symptoms of the medical conditions of PMAD. The department shall publish both the resource list and fact sheet in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Mandarin Chinese and other languages deemed appropriate by the department.
(2) Update the resource list and fact sheet required under paragraph (1) as needed.
(3) Establish a public awareness campaign to inform the general public about the nature and causes of PMAD and its health implications, including its symptoms, methods of coping with the illness and the most effective means of treatment.
Section 5. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 240 days.
