85S11229 DMS-D
By: Walle H.B. No. 10
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to maternal morbidity and pregnancy-related deaths.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 34.005, Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 34.005. DUTIES OF TASK FORCE. The task force shall:
(1) study and review:
(A) cases of pregnancy-related deaths; and
(B) trends, rates, or disparities in
pregnancy-related deaths and [in] severe maternal morbidity;
(2) determine the feasibility of the task force
studying cases of severe maternal morbidity; [and]
(3) make recommendations to help reduce the incidence
of pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity in this
state; and
(4) identify clinical practice opportunities in
maternal health care and develop evidence-based and provider-based
best practice recommendations to address those issues, prioritized
by most prevalent causes of pregnancy-related death and severe
maternal morbidity, in consultation with:
(A) the commission;
(B) the department;
(C) the Texas Collaborative for Healthy Mothers
and Babies;
(D) the Perinatal Advisory Council; and
(E) any relevant experts and other interested
persons.
SECTION 2. Sections 34.007(a) and (b), Health and Safety
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) The department shall determine a statistically
significant number of cases of pregnancy-related deaths for review.
The department shall either randomly select cases or select all
cases for the task force to review under this subsection to reflect
a cross-section of pregnancy-related deaths in this state.
(b) The department shall statistically analyze aggregate
data of pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity in
this state to identify any trends, rates, or disparities.
SECTION 3. Chapter 34, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
adding Sections 34.0156 and 34.0157 to read as follows:
Sec. 34.0156. MATERNAL HEALTH AND SAFETY INITIATIVE. (a)
Using existing resources, the department, in collaboration with the
task force, shall promote and facilitate the use among health care
providers in this state of maternal health and safety informational
materials, including tools and procedures related to best practice
recommendations in maternal health and safety under Section 34.005.
(b) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year,
the department shall submit to the executive commissioner,
governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of
representatives, Legislative Budget Board, and appropriate
standing committees of the legislature a report that includes:
(1) a summary of the initiative's implementation and
outcomes; and
(2) recommendations for improving the effectiveness
of the initiative.
Sec. 34.0157. FEASIBILITY STUDY RELATED TO MATERNAL HEALTH
AND SAFETY INITIATIVE. (a) Using existing resources and not later
than December 1, 2018, the commission shall study and determine the
feasibility of facilitating the adoption of best practice
recommendations under Section 34.005 and improving maternal health
outcomes as part of a value-based and quality improvement
initiative to promote better health outcomes and to lower costs for
publicly funded health care services. In conducting the study, the
commission as necessary shall consult with interested persons,
including managed care organizations and providers.
(b) The department shall collaborate with the commission in
compiling available data and information needed to complete the
feasibility study.
(c) The commission shall include the commission's
determination from the feasibility study in the report required by
Section 34.0156. The report may be included as part of another
report the department is required to submit to the legislature.
(d) This section expires May 1, 2019.
SECTION 4. Section 34.018, Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 34.018. SUNSET PROVISION. The task force is subject to
Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued
in existence as provided by that chapter, the task force is
abolished and this chapter expires December 31, 2023 [September 1,
2019].
SECTION 5. Subchapter D, Chapter 1001, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 1001.0712 to read as follows:
Sec. 1001.0712. CAUSE OF DEATH DATA IMPROVEMENT. (a) Not
later than October 1 of each even-numbered year, the department
shall submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the
house of representatives, and appropriate standing committees of
the legislature a report on the processes and procedures for
collecting cause of death information, including any challenges to
collecting accurate information relating to maternal mortality.
(b) In preparing the report, the department may examine:
(1) issues relating to the quality of the death
information being collected, including the accuracy and
completeness of the information;
(2) the role of medical certifiers in death
information collection;
(3) the perceptions of the individuals collecting the
death information regarding the information's integrity;
(4) the training required for the individuals
collecting death information; and
(5) the structural, procedural, and technological
issues of collecting the information.
(c) The department, in consultation with the Maternal
Mortality and Morbidity Task Force, shall examine national
standards regarding the collection of death information and may
convene a panel of experts to advise the department and the task
force in developing recommendations for improving the collection of
accurate information related to cause of death.
(d) The report may be included as part of another report the
department is required to submit to the legislature.
(e) This section expires September 1, 2021.
SECTION 6. If before implementing any provision of this Act
a state agency determines that an additional waiver or additional
authorization from a federal agency is necessary for implementation
of that provision, the agency affected by the provision shall
request the waiver or authorization and may delay implementing that
provision until the waiver or authorization is granted.
SECTION 7. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the
legislative session.