This bill seeks to rename the existing maternal mortality review panel to the maternal mortality review committee and introduces significant changes to its structure and administration. The committee will now 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 key revision in the bill is the updated definition of "pregnancy-related death," which now encompasses deaths from any cause related to or aggravated by pregnancy, eliminating the previous exclusions of accidental or incidental causes. The bill also modifies the committee's composition, allowing for the appointment of new members by the commissioner of health and human services, and removes the requirement for staggered three-year terms.

Additionally, the bill emphasizes the confidentiality of the committee's proceedings, records, and opinions, ensuring they are not subject to public disclosure or legal proceedings. It outlines the responsibilities of the commissioner in adopting rules for identifying and reporting maternal mortalities and mandates that all case findings be included in the case narrative provided to the committee. The scope of information that healthcare providers must report is expanded to include all maternal mortality deaths, while the commissioner is granted access to identifiable information on a case-by-case basis when public health is at risk. The act is set to take effect upon its passage.

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