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 managed 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 composition of the committee will 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. Notably, term limits for members have been removed, and the chair will be appointed by the commissioner or their designee.

Additionally, the bill formalizes the review body's structure by replacing the term "panel" with "committee" throughout the legislation. It establishes confidentiality for the proceedings, records, and opinions of the maternal mortality review committee, with specific exceptions for members involved in investigations. The bill also clarifies that committee members cannot be questioned about information presented during meetings, although they may testify about independently obtained or public information. Responsibilities of the commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services are outlined, including adopting rules for identifying and reporting maternal mortalities and handling family communications sensitively. The act mandates that all case findings be included in the case narrative for the committee and allows for the collection of identifiable information on maternal mortality cases for public health analysis, ensuring that such information is de-identified before review. The act is set to take effect upon passage.

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