AUSTIN, Texas — State lawmakers are considering changing how often maternal deaths are reviewed in Texas.
On Thursday, the House Committee on Public Health discussed House Bill 2117, which would require the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee to review cases every year instead of every two years like it typically does.
State Rep. Armando Walle (D-Houston) authored the bill. He said skipping certain years of data doesn’t allow lawmakers and doctors to accurately track policy impacts, health care shifts or systemic issues when it comes to maternal care, which stops them from saving more lives.
“Annual data review and reporting will give the most accurate and up-to-date information for working towards reducing Texas’ maternal mortality and morbidity rates,” Walle said. “I can tell you firsthand, the original intent was to review data annually when we passed the bill in 2013. HB 2117 simply clarifies that language.”
According to the state’s Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee, the maternal mortality rate in Texas in 2021 hit 38 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. The national maternal mortality rate is a little less that 24 deaths per 100,000 births.
Additionally, data shows Black mothers in Texas have a significantly higher mortality rate than white mothers.
HB 2117 comes on the heels of Texas gaining national attention for its maternal mortalities. Since the state banned almost all abortions, at least three women have died from pregnancy-related complications after they were denied abortion health care. Joselli Barnica died in 2021, and Neveah Crain and Porsha Ngumezi died in 2023.
HB 2117 was left pending in committee on Thursday.
Bill aimed at reducing backlog of maternal death cases due for review
House Bill 713, authored by State Rep. Donna Howard (D-Austin), would exempt nurses who are looking at cases as part of the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee from having to report instances of misconduct.
Back in 2022, the committee missed its report deadline because members were still reviewing cases from 2019. Howard says part of the problem is that information has to be redacted before nurses can review cases to ensure nurses can’t be held responsible for not reporting misconduct.
The House Committee on Public Health discussed HB 713 in mid-March, but it was left pending in committee.