Bill > HB256

This bill creates comprehensive provisions to improve maternal and infant health care in Missouri by establishing several key initiatives. The legislation creates a Fetal and Infant Mortality Review process requiring local public health agencies in counties with five or more infant deaths to investigate these deaths, focusing on disaggregating data by racial and ethnic identity. The bill also establishes a Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Board within the Department of Health and Senior Services to conduct ongoing reviews of maternal deaths, with a mandate to identify factors contributing to these deaths, analyze racial and social disparities, and make recommendations for prevention. Additionally, the bill introduces a new program to support midwifery education by contracting with training programs that focus on serving underserved, multicultural, and rural communities, with an emphasis on recruiting diverse students. The bill creates dedicated funds for both the Fetal and Infant Mortality Review and Midwifery Education initiatives, ensuring ongoing financial support. Importantly, the legislation emphasizes confidentiality and protection of individual privacy while collecting and analyzing critical health data, and includes provisions for voluntary interviews with families and medical professionals to better understand the circumstances surrounding maternal and infant deaths.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB256&year=2025&code=R