This bill seeks to rename the existing maternal mortality review panel to the maternal mortality review committee, reflecting a change in terminology and structure. The committee will be administered by the Department of Health and Human Services and facilitated by the New Hampshire Perinatal Quality Collaborative (NHPQC) associated with Dartmouth Health. A significant revision in the definition of "pregnancy-related death" is included, expanding it to encompass deaths from any cause related to or aggravated by pregnancy, thereby eliminating the previous exclusions of accidental or incidental causes.

Additionally, the bill modifies the committee's membership to include representatives from various medical and health organizations, as well as new appointments from the Division for Children, Youth and Families and the Department of Corrections. It removes term limits for members and stipulates that the chair will be appointed by the commissioner or their designee. The NHPQC will be tasked with collecting and analyzing maternal mortality data, while the committee will conduct thorough reviews of maternal deaths to identify contributing factors and suggest system improvements. The bill emphasizes confidentiality in the committee's operations, stating that its proceedings and records are not subject to public disclosure, and outlines the responsibilities of the commissioner in adopting rules related to maternal mortality identification and reporting. The act is set to take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 132:29, 132:30, 132:31