88R7117 LRM-D
 
  By: Thierry H.B. No. 1664
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a study on maternal mortality and morbidity among Black
  women in this state.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  (a) In this section:
               (1)  "Department" means the Department of State Health
  Services.
               (2)  "Review committee" means the Texas Maternal
  Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee established under Chapter
  34, Health and Safety Code.
         (b)  The review committee and the department shall jointly
  conduct a study to evaluate maternal mortality and morbidity among
  Black women in this state. In conducting the study, the review
  committee and department shall:
               (1)  compare maternal mortality and morbidity rates
  among Black women in this state in relation to maternal mortality
  and morbidity rates among each other race and ethnicity;
               (2)  compare maternal mortality and morbidity rates
  among Black women in this state in relation to socioeconomic status
  and education level;
               (3)  assess the impact of social determinants of
  health, including an evaluation of data on pregnancy-related
  deaths, pregnancy-related complications that almost resulted in
  death, and morbidities, to identify any correlation in that data to
  women who are uninsured, women who receive health care coverage
  under Medicaid, and women who receive health care coverage through
  a private insurer;
               (4)  evaluate the impact of the following health
  conditions on maternal mortality and morbidity:
                     (A)  cardiac health conditions;
                     (B)  preeclampsia, eclampsia, and other
  hypertensive disorders;
                     (C)  hemorrhage;
                     (D)  obesity; and
                     (E)  stress-related health conditions; and
               (5)  assess the extent to which implicit biases held by
  health care providers against Black individuals affect maternal
  mortality and morbidity among Black women.
         (c)  Based on the results of the study conducted under this
  section, the review committee and department shall develop
  recommendations to address disparities in maternal mortality and
  morbidity among Black women, including recommendations on:
               (1)  strategies to reduce the incidence of
  pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity;
               (2)  patient outreach and education;
               (3)  health care provider training, including a
  recommendation on the potential benefit of training on cultural
  competency and implicit biases against Black individuals;
               (4)  best practices identified as successful in
  reducing maternal mortality and morbidity; and
               (5)  the implementation in this state of programs
  operating in other states that have reduced maternal mortality and
  morbidity rates.
         (d)  Not later than September 1, 2024, the review committee
  and department shall prepare and submit to the governor, lieutenant
  governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and appropriate
  committees of the legislature a written report that summarizes the
  results of the study and includes the recommendations developed
  under this section. The report may be consolidated with the
  biennial report required under Section 34.015, Health and Safety
  Code.
         SECTION 2.  This Act expires December 31, 2024.
         SECTION 3.  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 September 1, 2023.