Thursday, May 17, 2018

New Multi-Agency Effort Launched to Combat Maternal Depression

 
At the direction of Governor Andrew Cuomo, the Department of Financial Services will require all New York commercial health insurance policies to cover maternal depression screenings, including screening for the mother under the child's policy. The Department of Health and Office of Mental Health will launch a strategic awareness campaign to provide critical information about symptoms and treatment options for maternal depression. Finally, the Office of Mental Health will open the first State-operated intensive outpatient clinic focused on maternal depression. These comprehensive actions will ensure that women in New York can access crucial screenings and treatment to combat maternal depression. This policy is part of the Governor's 2018 Women's Agenda.

"Every woman deserves access to high quality health care, and through our efforts, we're taking action to provide this necessary, skillful and compassionate care to all New Yorkers," Governor Cuomo said. "This administration will continue to break down barriers to health care access and provide this critical support to new and expecting parents, creating a stronger, healthier Empire State for all."

Research shows that skillful, prompt and compassionate care can make a critical difference for women with maternal depression, which affects as many as one in seven mothers nationally. Screening increases detection, diagnosis and intervention for maternal depression, which is highly treatable if identified early. However, not all insurance plans cover screenings—and many women lack access to information about available services.

Click here for the full announcement.

Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

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