Bill > HB2332

This bill establishes two key initiatives addressing maternal mental health in Arizona. First, it requires the Department of Health Services to compile and distribute educational materials about maternal mental health conditions, particularly postpartum depression, which must be made available on the department's website and in physical form. Healthcare institutions, including hospitals, primary care physicians, and other healthcare professionals, will be mandated to provide these educational materials to pregnant women or new parents, ensuring they receive information about symptoms, coping methods, treatment options, and resources related to postpartum depression. Second, the bill creates an advisory committee on obstetrics, gynecology, and maternal mental health in rural communities, composed of 20 members representing various healthcare sectors, including hospitals, physicians, midwives, doulas, community health centers, and insurers. This advisory committee will develop recommendations to improve access to maternal healthcare services in rural areas, with a specific focus on enhancing postpartum depression screening, treatment referrals, and care delivery. The committee is required to submit a comprehensive report to state leadership by December 31, 2026, and the committee itself will be dissolved on June 30, 2027.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/82103