SENATE BILL NO. 1279

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the Senate Committee on Education and Health

on ________________)

(Patron Prior to Substitute—Senator Jordan)

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 32.1-134.03, relating to maternal health; protocols and resources for hospitals and outpatient providers.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 32.1-134.03 as follows:

§ 32.1-134.03. Maternal health; protocols and resources for hospitals and outpatient providers.

A. In order to improve maternal health outcomes and address the most common causes of maternal mortality in the Commonwealth, the Virginia Neonatal Perinatal Collaborative (VNPC) shall:

1. Develop training materials and standardized management protocols for inpatient providers regarding the treatment of obstetric emergencies, the recognition of urgent maternal warning signs, and the transfer of pregnant and postpartum patients, based on clinical safety bundles established by the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health; and

2. Develop training materials and provider-specific checklists for outpatient providers regarding the treatment of obstetric emergencies, the recognition of urgent maternal warning signs, and the transfer of pregnant and postpartum patients, based on clinical safety bundles established by the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health.

B. When adopting such protocols, VNPC shall collaborate with facilities and account for their specific resources, patient populations, and care models.

C. All hospitals with an emergency department or labor and delivery, freestanding emergency departments, and birthing centers as defined in § 63.2-1914 shall implement standardized protocols for identifying and responding to obstetric emergencies, including obstetric hemorrhage, preeclampsia, eclampsia, and other life-threatening conditions based on the protocols developed by the VNPC.

D. The VNPC shall collect data regarding implementation of the protocols and maternal health outcomes and submit a report annually by October 1 to the Secretary of Health and Human Resources and the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Education and Health, the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, the House Committee on Health and Human Services, and the House Committee on Appropriations.