Premier Responds to Maternal Mental Health RFI

Premier submitted comments to the Substance Abuse and Mental health Administration (SAMHSA) Task Force in response to its request for information (RFI) on maternal mental health. Premier’s comments focus on three recommendations that, based on our data and work with members of our Perinatal Improvement Collaborative, we believe can improve maternal mental health outcomes:

1. Broader implementation of evidence-based practices, such as from professional medical societies
2. Robust research designed to lead clinical action
3. Updating pregnancy/post-partum-related conditions in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illnesses (DSM-5) from the current 28 days post-delivery to a one-year period

In addition, Premier addresses the following issues raised in the RFI:

• Priority outcomes for pregnant and postpartum individuals with substance use disorder and/or mental health conditions
• Priority research questions and gaps related to maternal substance use disorder and/or mental health conditions that must be addressed to improve services and outcomes for individuals while pregnant and postpartum
• Successful efforts to support maternal emotional health, substance use and well-being during pregnancy and after and existing gaps in these areas
• Steps to ensure that approaches to detecting maternal emotional health issues and substance use challenges are culturally appropriate
• Key evidence-based intervention and treatment models that should be broadly implemented to address maternal mental health and substance use