§ 20-15-102 — Depression screening for birth mothers at time of birth

Arkansas § 20-15-102

• Jurisdiction: Arkansas
• Title: 20

Text

(a) A physician or healthcare provider who is attending a birth in this state or a licensed healthcare provider who is attending or providing medical treatment to a birth mother in this state shall facilitate with a healthcare provider to screen the birth mother for depression within the first six (6) weeks of birth. (b) (1) If the birth mother declines to be screened for depression within the first six (6) weeks of having given birth, the physician or healthcare provider shall record in the patient's medical records that the birth mother was not screened for depression based upon the refusal of the patient. (2) The record of a patient refusal relieves the physician and the healthcare provider of liability under this subsection. (c) Records, reports, data, or other information collected or maintained under this section that identify or could be used to identify an individual patient, healthcare provider, or institution are confidential and are not subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act of 1967, § 25-19-101 et seq.

Legislative History

Added by Act 2023, No. 316,§ 1, eff. 8/1/2023.