CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION FOR PHYSICIANS GENERALLY Present law requires a person licensed to practice medicine in this state to generally complete continuing medical education as required by the board of medical examiners. However, the board may establish waivers from such continuing medical education requirements and exemptions for certain licensees through rules. The board must establish the continuing medical educational requirements, waivers, and exemptions through rules. This bill provides that, in establishing such continuing medical educational requirements, the board of medical examiners must develop and offer an optional course in maternal mental health, which must address all of the following:  Best practices in screening for maternal mental health disorders.  The range of maternal mental health disorders.  The range of evidence-based treatment options, including the importance of allowing a mother to be involved in developing the treatment plan.  When an obstetrician or a primary care physician should consult with a psychiatrist versus making a referral. This bill requires the board to periodically update any curriculum so developed to account for new research. The board must accept as credit toward a continuing education requirement the successful completion of the course described in this bill by a physician who practices in the specialty of pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, or psychiatry. CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS Present law requires every registered osteopathic physician to annually pay a renewal fee as set by the board; provided, that satisfactory evidence is presented to the board that such licensee in the year preceding the application for renewal successfully completed the required number of hours in courses, programs, internships or residencies as established and approved by the board through rules. This bill provides that, in establishing such continuing osteopathic medical educational requirements, the board of osteopathic examination must develop and offer an optional course in maternal mental health, which must address all of the following:  Best practices in screening for maternal mental health disorders.  The range of maternal mental health disorders.  The range of evidence-based treatment options, including the importance of allowing a mother to be involved in developing the treatment plan.  When an obstetrician or a primary care osteopathic physician should consult with a psychiatrist versus making a referral. This bill requires the board to periodically update such curriculum developed to account for new research. The board must accept as credit toward a continuing education requirement the successful completion of the course described in this bill by an osteopathic physician who practices in the specialty of pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, or psychiatry. CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS Present law requires the board of examiners in psychology to establish continuing educational requirements for psychologists designated as health service providers and psychological examiners, senior psychological examiners, certified psychological assistants, and certified psychological testing technicians. This bill provides that, in establishing such continuing educational requirements, the board must develop and offer an optional course in maternal mental health, which must address all of the following:  Best practices in screening for maternal mental health disorders.  The range of maternal mental health disorders.  The range of evidence-based treatment options, including the importance of allowing a mother to be involved in developing the treatment plan. This bill requires the board to periodically update such curriculum developed to account for new research. The board must accept as credit toward a continuing education requirement the successful completion of the course described in this bill by a psychologist designated as a health service provider, psychological examiner, senior psychological examiner, or certified psychological assistant. ON MARCH 17, 2025, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 849, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 revises the provisions requiring the board of medical examiners, the board of osteopathic examination, and the board of examiners in psychology to each develop and offer an optional course in maternal mental health to, instead, require the department of health to collaborate with an organization in this state that is approved by the board and accredited as a sponsor of continuing medical education to create or identify a continuing education program for the purpose of providing healthcare professionals licensed in this state with information or training relative to (i) best practices in screening for maternal mental health disorders; (ii) the range of maternal mental health disorders; (iii) the range of evidence-based treatment options, including the importance of allowing a mother to be involved in developing the treatment plan; and (iv) for an obstetrician or a primary care physician, when to consult with a psychiatrist versus making a referral.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 63-6-233, 63-9-107(a), 63-9-107, 63-11-104(h), 63-11-104