Texas Maternal Death Review Process Under Scrutiny
The Texas Department of State Health Services has been requested to provide a briefing on the state’s maternal death review process by a group of Democratic U.S. Representatives. The request comes after a state committee decided to largely skip over maternal deaths from the years immediately following the state’s strict abortion ban.
Concerns Over Omitted Death Reviews
The Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee’s decision not to conduct in-depth investigations into maternal deaths from 2022 and 2023 has raised concerns among medical providers and maternal health advocates. They worry that the decision will mask the impact of the state’s abortion ban on maternal mortality rates.
Representatives’ Concerns
U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, stated, "To this day, we have heard nothing but crickets." She expressed her office’s concern that the state agency has not responded to their requests for a briefing on the maternal death review process.
Background on the Issue
The Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee is responsible for investigating and addressing maternal deaths in the state. In 2022, Texas implemented a near-total abortion ban, which has been the subject of controversy and debate. The committee’s decision to skip over maternal deaths from 2022 and 2023 has raised concerns about the potential impact of the ban on maternal mortality rates.
Representatives’ Letters
The representatives sent two separate letters to the Texas Department of State Health Services requesting a briefing on the maternal death review process. The first letter was signed by Reps. Summer Lee (D-Penn.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Md.), and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), who was then the ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. The letter requested a briefing to the House Committee no later than January 2, 2023.
The second letter was signed by Crockett, Lee, Pressley, and Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), the new ranking member on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. The letter requested a briefing to the House Committee no later than February 12, 2023.
State Agency’s Response
Chris Van Deusen, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of State Health Services, confirmed that the department has received the representatives’ letters. However, he did not provide any additional information.
Conclusion
The Texas Department of State Health Services has been requested to provide a briefing on the state’s maternal death review process, but has not yet responded to the request. The state’s decision to skip over maternal deaths from 2022 and 2023 has raised concerns about the potential impact of the state’s abortion ban on maternal mortality rates. The representatives’ letters highlight the importance of transparency and accountability in the state’s maternal death review process.
FAQs
Q: What is the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee?
A: The Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee is responsible for investigating and addressing maternal deaths in the state.
Q: Why did the committee decide to skip over maternal deaths from 2022 and 2023?
A: The committee stated that the move would allow it to catch up on death reviews, which are currently backlogged.
Q: What are the concerns about the committee’s decision?
A: Medical providers and maternal health advocates worry that the decision will mask the impact of the state’s abortion ban on maternal mortality rates.
Q: What is the purpose of the representatives’ letters?
A: The representatives’ letters aim to request a briefing on the state’s maternal death review process and to express concerns about the committee’s decision to skip over maternal deaths from 2022 and 2023.
