Yesterday I saw something on Twitter discussing the American College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians' (ACOG) national healthcare reform agenda.I decided to take a look and see what ACOG had to say about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, if anything, when it comes to healthcare reform.
One of the documentsACOG hasreleased is a list of services they believe"must be covered by insurance in any health care plan". I read throughthat listand — LO AND BEHOLD! — in the section on pregnancy-related and infant care it includes this:
Mental health screening services, including screening and treatment for perinatal depression
ACOG considers this an "essential benefit". So do I. Thanks ACOG.
Awesome.
Not only that, but this Spring, the new ACOG president, Dr. Joseph announced that PPD would be one of his presidential initiatives! .