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Bill > HB662

MS HB662

MS HB662
Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Panel; create under State Department of Health.

summary

Introduced
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
02/03/2026

Introduced Session

2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

An Act To Create The Fetal And Infant Mortality Review Panel To Review Fetal Deaths And Deaths Of Infants Up To One Year Of Age And Establish Strategies To Prevent Infant Deaths; To Provide That The Review Panel Shall Be Multidisciplinary And Composed Of Such Members As Deemed Appropriate By The State Department Of Health; To Require The Review Panel To Submit A Report Annually To The House And Senate Public Health Committees That Include The Numbers, Causes And Relevant Demographic Information On Infant Mortality Deaths In Mississippi, And Appropriate Recommendations To The Legislature On How To Most Effectively Direct State Resources To Decrease Infant Mortality In The State; To Require That Data Shall Be Provided To The Review Panel By The State Medical Examiner's Office, State Department Of Health, Department Of Human Services, Medical Examiners, Coroners, Health Care Providers, Law Enforcement Agencies, And Any Other Agencies Or Officials Having Information That Is Necessary For The Review Panel To Carry Out Its Duties; To Require Physicians, Hospitals And Pharmacies To Provide Reasonable Access To The Review Panel To All Relevant Medical Records Associated With A Case Under Review By The Review Panel; To Provide That Information, Records And Proceedings Of The Review Panel Are Confidential And Not Subject To The Open Meetings Act, The Public Records Act Or Subpoena, Discovery Or Introduction Into Evidence; To Authorize The Review Panel To Initiate Enforcement Actions Against Agencies Or Officials That Do Not Provide Information To The Panel In A Complete And Timely Manner; To Amend Section 25-41-3, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Conform To The Preceding Provisions; To Exempt Certain Quality Assurance, Quality Improvement, Performance Improvement, And Review Records Of The State Department Of Health From The Public Records Act; To Provide That Such Records Shall Be Confidential And Not Subject To Disclosure, Subpoena, Or Discovery; To Exempt Certain Radiological Health And Radioactive Material Licensing Information From The Public Records Act When Disclosure Would Pose A Risk To Public Health Or Security; To Amend Section 25-41-7, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Authorize The State Department Of Health And Certain Panels, Committees, Systems, Or Programs Established, Designated, Administered, Or Supported By The Department For Purposes Of Quality Assurance, Quality Improvement, Performance Improvement, Peer Review, Patient Safety, Morbidity Or Mortality Review, Or System Evaluation To Conduct Closed Meetings Or Executive Sessions For The Discussion Of Confidential Quality Assurance And Performance Improvement Matters; And For Related Purposes.

AI Summary

This bill establishes a Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Panel within the State Department of Health to examine fetal deaths and deaths of infants up to one year old, with the goal of developing strategies to prevent infant mortality. The panel will be multidisciplinary, and its members will be determined by the State Department of Health. It is required to submit an annual report to legislative committees detailing the number, causes, and demographic information of infant mortality deaths in Mississippi, along with recommendations for state resource allocation to reduce these deaths. Various state agencies, including the Medical Examiner's office, the Department of Health, the Department of Human Services, law enforcement, and healthcare providers, are mandated to provide necessary data to the panel. Physicians, hospitals, and pharmacies must grant the panel access to relevant medical records for cases under review, and they will be protected from liability for good-faith provision of these records. Crucially, all information, records, and proceedings of the review panel are to be kept confidential and are exempt from public access laws (the Open Meetings Act and the Public Records Act) and cannot be subpoenaed or used as evidence in legal proceedings, though information obtainable from independent sources remains discoverable. The bill also grants the review panel the authority to take enforcement actions against agencies or officials who fail to provide information completely and in a timely manner. Additionally, certain quality assurance and performance improvement records of the State Department of Health, as well as specific radiological health and radioactive material licensing information that could pose a risk to public health or security, are also made confidential and exempt from the Public Records Act. Finally, the bill amends existing law to allow the State Department of Health and its related quality assurance and review panels, including this new Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Panel, to conduct closed meetings or executive sessions for the discussion of confidential quality assurance and performance improvement matters.

Committee Categories

Health and Social Services

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Died In Committee (on 02/03/2026)

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