§ 19a-59i — Maternal mortality review committee. Development of educational materials by the Department of Public Health.

(a) There is established a maternal mortality review committee within the department to conduct a comprehensive, multidisciplinary review of maternal deaths for purposes of identifying factors associated with maternal death and making recommendations to reduce maternal deaths. (b) The cochairpersons of the maternal mortality review committee shall be the Commissioner of Public Health, or the commissioner's designee, and a representative designated by the Connecticut State Medical Society. The cochairpersons shall convene a meeting of the maternal mortality review committee upon the request of the Commissioner of Public Health. (c) The maternal mortality review committee may include, but need not be limited to, any of the following members, as needed, depending on the maternal death case being reviewed: (1) A physician licensed pursuant to chapter 370 who specializes in obstetrics and gynecology, appointed by the Connecticut State Medical Society; (2) A physician licensed pursuant to chapter 370 who is a pediatrician, appointed by the Connecticut State Medical Society; (3) A community health worker, appointed by the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity; (4) A nurse-midwife licensed pursuant to chapter 377, appointed by the Connecticut Nurses Association; (5) A clinical social worker licensed pursuant to chapter 383b, appointed by the Connecticut Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers; (6) A psychiatrist licensed pursuant to chapter 370, appointed by the Connecticut Psychiatric Society; (7) A psychologist licensed pursuant to chapter 20-136 , appointed by the Connecticut Psychological Association; (8) The Chief Medical Examiner, or the Chief Medical Examiner's designee; (9) A member of the Connecticut Hospital Association; (10) A representative of a community or regional program or facility providing services for persons with psychiatric disabilities or persons with substance use disorders, appointed by the Commissioner of Public Health; (11) A representative of The University of Connecticut-sponsored health disparities institute; or (12) Any additional member the cochairpersons determine would be beneficial to serve as a member of the committee. (d) Whenever a meeting of the maternal mortality review committee takes place, the committee shall consult with relevant experts to evaluate the information and findings obtained from the department pursuant to section 19a-59h and make recommendations regarding the prevention of maternal deaths. Not later than ninety days after such meeting, the committee shall report, to the Commissioner of Public Health, any recommendations and findings of the committee in a manner that complies with section 19a-25 . (e) Not later than January 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the maternal mortality review committee shall submit a report of disaggregated data, in accordance with the provisions of section 19a-25 , regarding the information and findings obtained through the committee's investigation process to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a . Such report may include recommendations to reduce or eliminate racial inequities and other public health concerns regarding maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in the state. (f) All information provided by the department to the maternal mortality review committee shall be subject to the provisions of section 19a-25 . (g) The Department of Public Health shall develop educational materials regarding: (1) The health and safety of expectant and postpartum mothers and persons with mental health disorders, including, but not limited to, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, for distribution by the department to each birthing hospital in the state. As used in this subdivision, “birthing hospital” means a health care facility, as defined in section 19a-630 , operated and maintained in whole or in part for the purpose of caring for patients during the delivery of a child and for a postpartum mother or person and such mother's or person's newborn following birth; (2) Evidence-based screening tools for screening patients for intimate partner violence, peripartum mood disorders and substance use disorder for distribution by the department to obstetricians and other health care providers who practice obstetrics; (3) Indicators of intimate partner violence for distribution by the department to (A) hospitals for use by health care providers in the emergency department and hospital social workers, and (B) obstetricians and other health care providers who practice obstetrics; and (4) Not later than January 1, 2025, intimate partner violence toward expectant and postpartum mothers and persons for distribution by the department (A) in print to each birthing hospital and birth center in the state, and (B) electronically to obstetricians and other health care providers who practice obstetrics for provision to expectant and postpartum patients. The department shall consult with organizations that advocate on behalf of victims of domestic violence in the development of educational materials pursuant to this subdivision.

Legislative History

(P.A. 18-150, S. 3; P.A. 19-56, S. 5; 19-117, S. 140; P.A. 21-35, S. 12; P.A. 22-58, S. 75; P.A. 24-81, S. 45; 24-151, S. 141.) History: P.A. 19-56 made a technical change in Subsec. (c), effective June 28, 2019; P.A. 19-117 amended Subsec. (c)(3) to replace “Commission on Equity and Opportunity” with “Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity”, effective July 1, 2019; P.A. 21-35 added new Subsec. (e) re report of disaggregated data and redesignated existing Subsec. (e) as Subsec. (f), effective June 14, 2021; P.A. 22-58 added Subsec. (g) re development of educational materials, effective May 23, 2022; P.A. 24-81 amended Subsec. (g) to replace “Not later than January 1, 2023, the maternal mortality review committee” with “The Department of Public Health”, add Subdiv. (4) re educational materials re intimate partner violence toward pregnant and postpartum persons, and make technical and conforming changes throughout, effective May 30, 2024; P.A. 24-151 amended Subsec. (g) to replace “pregnant” with “expectant” and add references to mothers, effective July 1, 2024.