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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the reporting of certain information on maternal |
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mortality to the Department of State Health Services and the |
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confidentiality of that information. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 34.001, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Subdivisions (11-a) and (12-a) and amending |
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Subdivisions (12) and (14) to read as follows: |
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(11-a) "Pregnancy-associated death" means the death |
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of a woman by any cause that occurs during or within one year of |
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delivery or end of pregnancy, regardless of the outcome or location |
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of the pregnancy. |
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(12) "Pregnancy-related death" means the death of a |
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woman while pregnant or within one year of delivery or end of |
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pregnancy, regardless of the outcome, duration, or location [and
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site] of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by |
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the pregnancy or its management, but not from accidental or |
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incidental causes. |
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(12-a) "Review committee" means the Maternal Mortality |
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and Morbidity Review Committee. |
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(14) "Task force" means the review committee [Maternal
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Mortality and Morbidity Task Force]. |
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SECTION 2. The heading to Section 34.002, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 34.002. MATERNAL MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY REVIEW |
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COMMITTEE; REFERENCE IN LAW [TASK FORCE]. |
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SECTION 3. Section 34.002, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsections (a) and (e) and adding Subsection |
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(a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a) The Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee |
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[Task Force] is administered by the department. |
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(a-1) Notwithstanding any other law, a reference in this |
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chapter or other law to the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task |
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Force means the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee. |
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(e) A member of the task force appointed under Subsection |
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(b)(1) is not entitled to compensation for service on the task force |
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but, subject to Section 34.014(b), may be reimbursed [or
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reimbursement] for travel or other expenses incurred by the member |
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while conducting the business of the task force. |
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SECTION 4. Section 34.009(a), Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Any information pertaining to a pregnancy-associated |
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death, a pregnancy-related death, or severe maternal morbidity is |
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confidential for purposes of this chapter. |
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SECTION 5. Section 34.014, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 34.014. FUNDING. (a) The department may accept |
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gifts and grants from any source to fund the duties of the |
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department and the task force under this chapter. |
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(b) The department may use only gifts, grants, or federal |
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funds to reimburse travel or other expenses incurred by a member of |
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the task force in accordance with Section 34.002(e). |
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SECTION 6. Section 34.008, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: |
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(e) For purposes of this chapter, a licensed health care |
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provider, including a nurse, who is involved in obtaining |
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information relevant to a case of pregnancy-associated death, |
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pregnancy-related death, or severe maternal morbidity under this |
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chapter and who is required under other law to report a violation |
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related to the provider's profession is exempt from the requirement |
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to report the violation for information obtained under this |
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chapter. |
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SECTION 7. Section 34.017, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsections (c), (d), and (e) to read as follows: |
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(c) The department may allow voluntary and confidential |
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reporting to the department of pregnancy-associated deaths and |
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pregnancy-related deaths by health care professionals, health care |
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facilities, and persons who complete the medical certification for |
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a death certificate for deaths reviewed or analyzed by the review |
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committee. |
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(d) The department shall allow voluntary and confidential |
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reporting to the department of pregnancy-associated deaths and |
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pregnancy-related deaths by family members of or other appropriate |
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individuals associated with a deceased patient. The department |
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shall: |
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(1) post on the department's Internet website the |
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contact information of the person to whom a report may be submitted |
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under this subsection; and |
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(2) conduct outreach to local health organizations on |
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the availability of the review committee to review and analyze the |
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deaths. |
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(e) Information reported to the department under this |
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section is confidential in accordance with Section 34.009. |
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SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |