With one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation and ongoing litigation around requiring fetal remains from abortions and miscarriages occurring in health care facilities to be buried or cremated separately from medical waste, the Texas Hospital Association is tracking the legislature’s efforts to:
- Review state programs that provide women’s health services and recommend solutions to increase access to effective and timely care. During the review, identify services provided in each program, the number of providers and clients participating in the programs and the enrollment and transition process between programs. Monitor the work of the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force and recommend solutions to reduce maternal deaths and morbidity. In addition, review the correlation between pre-term and low birth weight births and the use of alcohol and tobacco. Consider options to increase treatment options and deter usage of these substances. House Committee on Public Health
- Monitor and make recommendations needed to improve and enhance:
- Initiatives to better understand the causes of maternal mortality and morbidity. Recommend ways to improve health outcomes for pregnant women and methods to better collect data related to maternal mortality and morbidity.
- Abortion complications and other reporting legislation that was passed by the 85th Legislature. Senate Health and Human Services Committee
- Examine the Attorney General’s jurisdiction on issues of alleged violations of state laws regarding abortion and multi-jurisdictional human trafficking cases. Make recommendations to ensure uniform enforcement across the state. Senate State Affairs Committee
Contacts
Jennifer Banda, vice president of advocacy, public policy and HOSPAC, 512/465-1046
Carrie Kroll, vice president of advocacy, quality and public health, 512/465-1043
Cesar Lopez, J.D., associate general counsel, 512/465-1027