2025 SESSION

HOUSE SUBSTITUTE

25108187D

HOUSE BILL NO. 2109

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the Governor

on March 24, 2025)

(Patron Prior to Substitute—Delegate Herring)

A BILL to reestablish the Task Force on Maternal Health Data and Quality Measures; report.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. That the State Health Commissioner shall reestablish the Task Force on Maternal Health Data and Quality Measures (the Task Force) for the purpose of evaluating maternal health data collection processes to inform policies in the Commonwealth that improve maternal care, quality, and outcomes.

The Task Force shall consist of the Director of the Department of Medical Assistance Services or his designee; the Director of the Virginia Neonatal Perinatal Collaborative or his designee; the Program Manager for the Maternal Mortality Review team; members of nonprofits related to health information appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Resources (the Secretary); licensed obstetricians or gynecologists practicing in the Commonwealth appointed by the Secretary; licensed nurse practitioners or registered nurses who work in the area of maternal health in the Commonwealth appointed by the Secretary; certified nurse midwives or licensed certified midwives appointed by the Secretary; experts in postpartum care and depression in the Commonwealth appointed by the Secretary; experts in maternal health data collection processes appointed by the Secretary; representatives from organizations or groups in the Commonwealth that specialize in serving at-risk populations and improving equity and outcomes in maternal health appointed by the Secretary; individuals licensed in neonatal and premature infant care and nutrition in the Commonwealth appointed by the Secretary; representatives in maternal health from each of the health care payers appointed by the Secretary; health care experts who serve underserved and minority populations in the Commonwealth appointed by the Secretary; the Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services or his designee; the Commissioner of Social Services or his designee; the Secretary of Education or his designee; the Chief Diversity, Opportunity, and Inclusion Officer or his designee; the Chair of the Virginia Council on Women or his designee; and any other stakeholders as may be appointed by the Governor.

The Task Force shall:

1. Monitor progress and evaluate all data from state-level stakeholders, including third-party payers, and all available electronic claims data to examine quality of care with regard to race, ethnicity, and other demographic and clinical outcome data;

2. Monitor progress and evaluate all data from existing state-level sources mandated for maternal care, including new Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) measure updates to Postpartum Depression Screening and Follow-up Care;

3. Examine the barriers preventing the collection and reporting of timely maternal health data from all stakeholders, including payers;

4. Examine current maternal health benefit requirements and determine the need for additional benefits to protect women's health;

5. Evaluate the impact of social determinants of health screening on pregnant women and its impact on outcomes data;

6. Analyze data one year after delivery, including local health district data that will assist in better understanding the scope of the issue; and

7. Develop recommendations based upon best practices for standard quality metrics on maternal care.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Task Force upon request. The Department of Health and the Department of Medical Assistance Services shall provide staff assistance to the Task Force. The Task Force shall report its findings and conclusions to the Governor and General Assembly by December 1 of each year regarding its activities and shall conclude its work by December 1, 2028.