Existing law establishes the: (1) Advisory Board on Maternal and Child Health to advise the Administrator of the Division of Public and Behavioral Health of the Department of Health and Human Services, which performs certain duties relating to perinatal care and programs to improve the health of preschool children; and (2) Maternal Mortality Review Committee within the Department to identify and review each incident of maternal mortality in this State. (NRS 442.133, 442.137, 442.764, 442.767) Section 3 of this bill creates the Perinatal Quality Collaborative, which consists of members who are representatives of various governmental agencies and other persons who are involved in maternal and neonatal health care. Section 3 also establishes procedures governing the meetings and operations of the Collaborative. Sections 3 and 8 of this bill provide that the meetings of the Collaborative are closed to the public, unless the Chair of the Collaborative opens a meeting to the public. Section 4 of this bill prescribes the objectives and duties of the Collaborative and the actions the Collaborative is authorized to perform to achieve its objectives. The objectives of the Collaborative include reducing: (1) the number of premature births; (2) the rate of maternal morbidity and mortality; (3) the rate of maternal substance use disorder; (4) the number of infants born with neonatal abstinence syndrome and improve the identification of neonatal abstinence syndrome in infants; (5) the disparities in pregnancy-related morbidities or death for economically disadvantaged and racial and ethnic minority groups; and (6) the costs of perinatal care. Sections 4 and 6 of this bill entitle the Collaborative to access certain records and information necessary to perform its duties. Sections 4 and 7 of this bill provide that any record or information the Collaborative receives is confidential, with certain exceptions. Section 4 requires the Collaborative to biennially report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature. Section 5 of this bill requires the Director of the Department to appoint: (1) an Executive Director of the Collaborative to direct and supervise the administrative and technical activities of the Collaborative and perform other duties as may be assigned by the Director; and (2) a Clinical Director of the Collaborative to direct and supervise the clinical activities of the Collaborative and perform other duties as may be assigned by the Director.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 442.774, 239.010, 241.016
Reprint 1: 442.774, 239.010, 241.016
BDR: 442.774, 239.010, 241.016