H.B. No. 3121 seeks to improve maternal health outcomes in Texas by amending the Health and Safety Code to introduce new definitions and protocols for reviewing maternal health cases. The bill defines "pregnancy-associated death" as the death of a woman during or within one year of delivery and modifies the definition of "pregnancy-related death" to encompass various causes linked to pregnancy management. It redefines the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force as the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee, clarifying member roles and including provisions for reimbursement of expenses incurred during committee activities.

Additionally, the bill establishes a work group to create a maternal mortality and morbidity data registry to collect individualized patient information and aggregate statistical reports, aiming to enhance maternal care quality. It introduces a medical assistance program for doula services, allowing reimbursement for nonmedical support during pregnancy and postpartum. The executive commissioner will determine doula qualifications and services covered, while an annual report will evaluate the program's impact on birth outcomes. The bill also mandates a joint study to assess maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women, focusing on social determinants of health and implicit biases, with findings due by September 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Health and Safety Code 34.001, Health and Safety Code 34.002, Health and Safety Code 34.008, Health and Safety Code 34.009, Health and Safety Code 34.014, Health and Safety Code 34.017 (Health and Safety Code 34)