SRC-TJG C.S.H.B. 341 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 341
By: Uresti (Lindsay)
Health & Human Services
5/23/2003
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Several physical and psychological health risks are associated  with
pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.  It has been documented
that postpartum depression, a mood disorder that begins after childbirth,
affects approximately 15 percent of all childbearing women.  Such
disorders may be treated with therapy and support networks.  C.S.H.B. 341
requires that parenting and postpartum counseling information be provided
to women undergoing prenatal care to assist them in dealing with
postpartum depression or to provide other needed assistance. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 161, Health and Safety Code, by adding
Subchapter R, as follows: 

SUBCHAPTER R.  PARENTING AND POSTPARTUM COUNSELING INFORMATION

Sec. 161.451.  RESOURCE LIST.  (a) Requires a hospital, birthing center,
physician, nurse midwife, or midwife who provides prenatal care to a
pregnant women during gestation or at delivery of an infant to take
certain actions. 

(b) Requires the mandated resource list to include resources a parent may
contact to receive counseling and assistance for postpartum depression and
other emotional traumas associated with pregnancy and parenting. 

(c) Provides that  a hospital, birthing center, physician, nurse midwife,
or midwife who provides prenatal care to a woman during gestation or at
delivery is presumed to have complied with this section if the woman
received prior prenatal care from another hospital, birthing center,
physician, or midwife in this state during the same pregnancy. 

Sec. 161.452.  DUTIES OF DEPARTMENT.  Requires the Texas Department of
Health to take certain actions. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2003.