Maternal Mental Health Screening Requirement

Provider Type

  • Physicians
  • Participating Physician Groups (PPG) 
    (does not apply to HSP)
  • Hospitals
  • Ancillary

Licensed health care practitioners who provide prenatal or postpartum care for a patient should screen or offer to screen mothers for maternal mental health conditions.

Maternal mental health condition means a mental health condition that occurs during pregnancy, the postpartum period, or interpregnancy and includes, but is not limited to, postpartum depression.

Providers serving Health Net members can use one of the following screening tools, as appropriate to the member's plan:

  • Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2)
  • Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
  • Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale

You can refer members with a positive screen to Health Net's Case Management Department for further assistance with the member's mental health needs.

Pregnancy Program

Health care service plans and health insurers must develop a maternal mental health program. The program must be consistent with sound clinical principles and processes.

Health Net offers a pregnancy program to pregnant commercial and Medi-Cal members. The program provides customized support and care needed for a healthy pregnancy and baby. It helps pregnant members access medical care, educates them about their health care needs and assists with social needs and concerns. The program uses the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale to assess for mental health needs of pregnant members and facilitates referrals to a mental health specialist as needed.

Refer members to the pregnancy program by contacting the Case Management Department.