SENATE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 2834, 3148, 3258 PRINTER'S NO. 3690
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2127
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY FIEDLER, CURRY, BOROWSKI, MADDEN, SANCHEZ,
BULLOCK, SCHLOSSBERG, KHAN, HANBIDGE, PROBST, ROZZI, BOYLE,
HILL-EVANS, TAKAC, WAXMAN, FLEMING, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, OTTEN,
SHUSTERMAN, DEASY, HOWARD, STEELE, O'MARA, GILLEN, KRAJEWSKI,
GREEN, CERRATO, WEBSTER, MAYES, SIEGEL, BRENNAN, HADDOCK,
KINKEAD, D. MILLER, PARKER, HOHENSTEIN, FREEMAN, KENYATTA,
KAZEEM, D. WILLIAMS, CEPHAS, ISAACSON, BOYD, SALISBURY,
YOUNG, MADSEN AND T. DAVIS, APRIL 3, 2024
SENATOR BROOKS, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, IN SENATE, AS
AMENDED, OCTOBER 1, 2024
AN ACT
1 Requiring information relating to perinatal or postpartum mood
2 and anxiety disorders and resources and screening to be <--
3 provided to pregnant patients; and providing for powers and
4 duties of the Department of Health.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Short title.
8 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Perinatal and
9 Postpartum Education Act.
10 Section 2. Definitions.
11 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
12 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
13 context clearly indicates otherwise:
14 "Birth center." As defined in section 802.1 of the act of
15 July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care
1 Facilities Act.
2 "Department." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
3 "Hospital." As defined in section 802.1 of the Health Care
4 Facilities Act.
5 "Midwife or nurse-midwife." As defined in section 2 of the
6 act of December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the Medical
7 Practice Act of 1985.
8 "Physician." Either:
9 (1) As defined in section 2 of the Medical Practice Act
10 of 1985.
11 (2) As defined in section 2 of the act of October 5,
12 1978 (P.L.1109, No.261), known as the Osteopathic Medical
13 Practice Act.
14 "PMAD." A perinatal or postpartum mood and anxiety disorder.
15 Section 3. Resource information.
16 (a) Duties.--A hospital, birth center, physician or midwife
17 or nurse-midwife that provides care to a patient during
18 gestation, stillbirth, delivery of an infant or postpartum may:
19 (1) Provide the patient with the fact sheet made
20 available under section 4.
21 (2) Provide the patient with the resource list made
22 available under section 4.
23 (b) Resources to other individuals.--The information
24 provided to the patient under subsection (a) may be provided to
25 any other individuals who accompany the patient to a well-baby
26 visit, subject to the patient's consent, as well as to any other
27 individuals that the patient may designate.
28 Section 4. Powers and duties of department.
29 The department shall:
30 (1) Make available on the department's publicly
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1 accessible Internet website a printable resource list of the
2 names, addresses and telephone numbers of professional
3 organizations that provide pregnancy counseling and
4 assistance to parents, including organizations that provide
5 prenatal counseling, postpartum counseling and assistance
6 with PMAD. The department shall also make available a fact
7 sheet that includes common symptoms of the medical conditions
8 of PMAD. The department shall publish both the resource list
9 and fact sheet in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Mandarin
10 Chinese and other languages deemed appropriate by the
11 department.
12 (2) Update the resource list and fact sheet required
13 under paragraph (1) as needed.
14 (3) Establish a public awareness campaign to inform the
15 general public about the nature and causes of PMAD and its
16 health implications, including its symptoms, methods of
17 coping with the illness and the most effective means of
18 treatment.
19 Section 5. Effective date.
20 This act shall take effect in 240 days.
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