This bill amends the existing law regarding the maternal mortality review panel by revising its membership and responsibilities. A new subparagraph is added to include a representative from the Department of Corrections, appointed by the commissioner. Additionally, the bill changes the name of the organization responsible for collecting and analyzing maternal mortality information from the Northern New England Perinatal Quality Improvement Network (NNEPQIN) to the New Hampshire Perinatal Quality Collaborative (NHPQC), which is affiliated with Dartmouth Health. The bill also emphasizes that the activities of the NHPQC will be subject to the same confidentiality provisions as the panel.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the responsibilities of the panel members regarding the dissemination of recommendations, ensuring that each meeting concludes with the development of recommendations that members are responsible for sharing with their respective institutions or professional organizations. It also updates the terminology from "deaths" to "mortalities" and expands the protocol for contacting family members of deceased women to include close contacts, while allowing grieving families the option to refuse interviews. The bill mandates that all individuals and facilities involved in the panel review remain de-identified to protect confidentiality. The act will take effect upon its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 132:29, 132:30, 132:31
As Amended by the House: 132:30
Version adopted by both bodies: 132:30