Florida Senate - 2019 SB 758
By Senator Gibson
6-01222-19 2019758__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the Maternal Mortality Prevention
3 Task Force; establishing the Maternal Mortality
4 Prevention Task Force to advise the Department of
5 Health and make recommendations; providing for duties
6 and membership of the task force; requiring the task
7 force to submit a report of its findings and
8 recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature by
9 a specified date; providing for expiration of the task
10 force; providing an effective date.
11
12 WHEREAS, in the United States, maternal mortality rates are
13 among the highest in the developed world, increasing by 26.6
14 percent between 2000 and 2014, and
15 WHEREAS, data from the Centers for Disease Control and
16 Prevention show that more than 700 women die each year in the
17 United States from complications related to pregnancy or
18 childbirth, and
19 WHEREAS, the maternal mortality rate for African-American
20 women is nearly four times higher than that for Caucasian women,
21 and
22 WHEREAS, in 2015, the mortality rate in the United States
23 was 14 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, with causes
24 ranging from a rise in pregnancy-related medical conditions and
25 the age of women giving birth to a lack of standardized hospital
26 protocols, and
27 WHEREAS, postpartum hemorrhaging, cardiomyopathy, and
28 hypertensive disorders are the leading causes of maternal
29 mortality in the United States, and
30 WHEREAS, in 1996, the Florida Department of Health
31 initiated the Florida Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review
32 (PAMR) program to improve surveillance and analysis of
33 pregnancy-related deaths and facilitate improvements in the
34 overall system of care in the state, an essential piece of the
35 solution to preventing maternal deaths, and
36 WHEREAS, the Florida PAMR program found that the primary
37 contributing factor to maternal deaths in the state is a lack of
38 standardization in health care policies and procedures relating
39 to treatment, diagnosis, knowledge or skills assessment, care
40 coordination, referrals, transfers, and followup, all of which
41 can lead to delays in treatment or diagnosis, and
42 WHEREAS, the state must diligently examine and reevaluate
43 current practices and policies and identify and immediately
44 remedy deficiencies in such practices and policies to protect
45 the health of all women during pregnancy, childbirth, and in the
46 postpartum period, and to eliminate preventable maternal deaths
47 in the state, NOW, THEREFORE,
48
49 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
50
51 Section 1. (1) A task force is established adjunct to the
52 Department of Health to advise the department and, except as
53 otherwise provided in this section, shall operate consistent
54 with s. 20.052, Florida Statutes. The task force shall be known
55 as the “Maternal Mortality Prevention Task Force.” The
56 Department of Health shall provide administrative and staff
57 support services relating to the functions of the task force.
58 (2) The purposes of the task force are to evaluate methods
59 to improve the effectiveness of current practices, procedures,
60 programs, and initiatives in reducing the rate of preventable
61 maternal deaths; identify any deficiencies; and recommend
62 changes to existing laws, rules, and policies needed to
63 implement the task force’s recommendations. At a minimum, the
64 task force shall evaluate and consider the following to assist
65 in developing its recommendations:
66 (a) Specific circumstances surrounding pregnancy-related
67 deaths and other relevant data and information reported in the
68 state.
69 (b) Continuing education and training requirements for
70 health care providers relating to maternal care and the
71 identification of at-risk patients before and during pregnancy
72 and after childbirth.
73 (c) Education of a patient and the patient’s family members
74 before and during pregnancy and after childbirth relating to the
75 importance of stabilizing chronic medical health issues, family
76 planning, substance abuse, and mental health.
77 (d) Health care provider reporting requirements for adverse
78 medical incidents.
79 (e) The protocols, tools, medications, techniques, and
80 guidelines used in facilities by health care providers to
81 identify, prevent, and manage obstetric emergencies, including,
82 but not limited to, postpartum hemorrhaging.
83 (f) The factors leading to racial and ethnic disparities in
84 maternal health outcomes, and the potential community-based
85 solutions to address such disparities.
86 (3) The task force shall consist, at a minimum, of the
87 following members:
88 (a) The State Surgeon General or his or her designee, who
89 shall serve as the chair of the task force.
90 (b) The Secretary of Health Care Administration or his or
91 her designee.
92 (c) Two members of the Senate appointed by the President of
93 the Senate.
94 (d) Two members of the House of Representatives appointed
95 by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
96 (e) A physician appointed by the Board of Medicine who
97 actively practices obstetrics, gynecology, or family medicine.
98 (f) A physician appointed by the Board of Osteopathic
99 Medicine who actively practices obstetrics, gynecology, or
100 family medicine.
101 (g) An advanced practice registered nurse appointed by the
102 Board of Nursing who actively practices as a certified nurse
103 midwife.
104 (h) A registered nurse appointed by the Board of Nursing
105 who has experience in labor and delivery.
106 (i) A licensed midwife appointed by the Council of Licensed
107 Midwifery.
108 (j) A mental health professional jointly appointed by the
109 Board of Psychology and the Board of Clinical Social Work,
110 Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling.
111 (k) Two representatives of hospitals or facilities licensed
112 under chapter 395, each of whom regularly provides pregnancy
113 related services, appointed by the Secretary of Health Care
114 Administration.
115 (l) A representative of the Florida Pregnancy-Associated
116 Mortality Review (PAMR) program appointed by the State Surgeon
117 General.
118 (m) Two representatives from stakeholder groups
119 participating in the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative at
120 the University of South Florida College of Public Health.
121 (4) By December 1, 2020, the task force shall submit a
122 report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the
123 President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
124 Representatives.
125 (5) This section expires June 30, 2021.
126 Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.