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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study on maternal mortality and morbidity among Black |
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women in this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Department" means the Department of State Health |
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Services. |
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(2) "Review committee" means the Texas Maternal |
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Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee established under Chapter |
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34, Health and Safety Code. |
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(b) The review committee and the department shall jointly |
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conduct a study to evaluate maternal mortality and morbidity among |
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Black women in this state. In conducting the study, the review |
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committee and department shall: |
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(1) compare maternal mortality and morbidity rates |
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among Black women in this state to maternal mortality and morbidity |
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rates among each other race and ethnicity; |
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(2) compare maternal mortality and morbidity rates |
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among Black women in this state in relation to their socioeconomic |
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status and education level; |
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(3) assess the impact of social determinants of |
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health, including an evaluation of data on pregnancy-related |
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deaths, pregnancy-related complications almost resulting in death, |
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and morbidities, to identify any correlation in that data to women |
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who are uninsured, receive health care coverage under Medicaid, or |
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receive health care coverage through a private health benefit plan |
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issuer; |
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(4) evaluate the impact of the following health |
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conditions on maternal mortality and morbidity: |
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(A) cardiac health conditions; |
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(B) preeclampsia, eclampsia, and other |
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hypertensive disorders; |
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(C) hemorrhage; |
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(D) obesity; and |
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(E) stress-related health conditions; and |
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(5) assess the effect on maternal mortality and |
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morbidity among Black women of implicit biases held by health care |
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providers against Black individuals. |
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(c) Based on the results of the study conducted under this |
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section, the review committee and department shall develop |
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recommendations to address disparities in maternal mortality and |
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morbidity among Black women, including recommendations on: |
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(1) strategies to reduce the incidence of |
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pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity; |
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(2) patient outreach and education; |
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(3) health care provider training, including a |
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recommendation on the potential benefit of training on cultural |
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competency and implicit biases against Black individuals; |
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(4) best practices identified as successful in |
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reducing maternal mortality and morbidity; and |
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(5) the implementation in this state of programs |
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operating in other states that have reduced maternal mortality and |
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morbidity rates. |
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(d) Not later than September 1, 2026, the review committee |
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and department shall prepare and submit to the governor, lieutenant |
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governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and appropriate |
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standing committees of the legislature a written report summarizing |
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the results of the study and including the recommendations |
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developed under this section. The report may be consolidated with |
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the biennial report required under Section 34.015, Health and |
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Safety Code. |
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SECTION 2. This Act expires December 31, 2026. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |