26:6C-7 Duties of committee upon organization relative to reporting, recordkeeping of maternal deaths.

7. a. Within 90 days after the committee's organizational meeting, the committee shall:

(1) develop a mandatory maternal death reporting process, pursuant to which health care practitioners, medical examiners, hospitals, birthing centers, and other relevant professional actors and health care facilities will be required to confidentially report to the Department of Health on individual cases of maternal death. In developing a mandatory maternal death reporting process pursuant to this paragraph, the committee may, as deemed to be appropriate, review and incorporate elements of the maternal death reporting process that is used by the Maternal Mortality Case Review Team as of the effective date of this act; and

(2) develop a voluntary maternal death reporting process, pursuant to which the family members of a deceased woman, and any other interested members of the public, will be permitted, but not required, to confidentially report to the Department of Health on individual cases of perceived maternal death. At a minimum, the process developed pursuant to this paragraph shall require the department to: (a) post on its Internet website a hyperlink, a toll-free telephone number, and an email address, which may each be used for the voluntary submission of public reports of maternal death; and (b) publicize the availability of these resources to professional organizations, community organizations, social service agencies, and members of the public.

b. The department shall keep a record of all reports of maternal death that are submitted thereto through the reporting processes that are established by the committee pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection a. of this section. The department shall also ensure that a copy of each such report of maternal death is promptly forwarded to the committee, so that the committee may properly execute its investigatory functions and other duties and responsibilities under this act.

L.2019, c.75, s.7.