Healthy Representation
Maternal Mortality: Arkansas legislature establishes review committee BY Charlotte LoBuono The committee will review all pregnancy-related deaths, or maternal deaths that occur up to one year after the end of pregnancy. Its first report goes to the legislature in December 2020. According to the 2019 America’s Health Rankings Report on the Health of Women and Children from the United Health Foundation, Arkansas ranks 46th in maternal mortality compared to other states. So, in April 2019, the Arkansas State Legislature, with passage of ACT 829, authorized formation of a review committee to explore why the maternal mortality rate is so high and how to reduce it. The Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) is guided by policies and statutes that allow access to medical records for review. William Greenfield, MD, medical director of Family Health at the Arkansas Department of Health, says reviewed cases will be de-identified prior to MMRC’s review. As an interprofessional group with members from across Arkansas, the new MMRC held its first meeting January 9. The current members all share a commitment to improving maternal outcomes. The makeup of the committee is being finalized. “The committee will have about 20 members representing a diverse group of health care practitioners,” says Dr. Greenfield. Most members will be from the field of obstetrics/gynecology, but behavioral health, cardiology and psychiatry will also be represented. “Ideally, the representation of different demographics will allow everyone to bring something unique to the table,” he explains.
30 • bridge AMHC 2020
