S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
1594
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 17, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law and the mental hygiene law, in
relation to requiring the departments of health and mental hygiene to
create a pamphlet of mental health resources for those who have
suffered a pregnancy loss
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section
2997-f-2 to read as follows:
§ 2997-F-2. PROVISION OF INFORMATION RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED A PREGNANCY LOSS. 1. THE DEPARTMENT, IN
CONJUNCTION WITH THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH, SHALL DEVELOP AND DISTRIB-
UTE TO HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS A PAMPHLET OF MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES
FOR PATIENTS WHO HAVE SUFFERED A PREGNANCY LOSS, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, A MISCARRIAGE, STILLBIRTH OR ABORTION.
2. HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS SHALL PROVIDE THE PAMPHLET DEVELOPED
PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION TO PATIENTS DURING THE FIRST APPOINTMENT
FOLLOWING SUCH PATIENT'S PREGNANCY LOSS.
§ 2. Section 2997-b of the public health law, as added by chapter 477
of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
§ 2997-b. Pamphlet of department programs. The commissioner shall
develop and transmit to physicians in the state a pamphlet describing a
variety of department programs and initiatives, including but not limit-
ed to smoking cessation programs, public health insurance programs,
health and quality improvement information, the patient safety center,
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES FOR PATIENTS WHO HAVE SUFFERED A PREGNANCY LOSS
and physician profiles. Each physician practicing in the state shall
make the pamphlet available in [his or her] SUCH PHYSICIAN'S practice
reception area so that it is accessible to patients.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05853-01-3
A. 1594 2
§ 3. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 267-a to
read as follows:
§ 267-A. SANITARY NAPKINS; PREGNANCY LOSS. EVERY HEALTH CARE PRACTI-
TIONER REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THE PAMPHLET DEVELOPED PURSUANT TO SECTION
TWENTY-NINE HUNDRED NINETY-SEVEN-F-TWO OF THIS CHAPTER TO A PATIENT
SHALL PROVIDE TO SUCH PATIENT AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF SANITARY NAPKINS TO
ASSIST WITH SUCH PATIENT'S AFTER CARE. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION,
"ADEQUATE SUPPLY" MEANS AN AMOUNT OF SANITARY NAPKINS SUFFICIENT FOR USE
BY THE PATIENT FOR SEVEN DAYS FOLLOWING SUCH PATIENT'S DISCHARGE.
§ 4. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section 7.50 to
read as follows:
§ 7.50 PROVISION OF INFORMATION RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR
THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED A PREGNANCY LOSS.
THE OFFICE, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, SHALL DEVEL-
OP A PAMPHLET OF MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES FOR PATIENTS WHO HAVE SUFFERED
A PREGNANCY LOSS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, A MISCARRIAGE, STILL-
BIRTH OR ABORTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTIONS TWENTY-NINE HUNDRED NINE-
TY-SEVEN-B AND TWENTY-NINE HUNDRED NINETY-SEVEN-F-TWO OF THE PUBLIC
HEALTH LAW.
§ 5. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such effective date.