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House passes bill to expand maternal mortality reviews and require psychiatric records for investigations
Summary
The House approved House Bill 89 to expand the maternal mortality review framework, establish perinatal regional centers and clarify autopsy and medical-record procedures, including greater access to psychiatric records for review committees.
The Georgia House on Monday passed House Bill 89, a committee-substitute measure that requires broader data access and creates structures intended to improve maternal mortality review and prevention.
Representative Sharon Cooper, the presenting sponsor, said the bill “sets up a committee that will look at these centers” and establishes parameters for a perinatal regional commission and the maternal mortality review process. Cooper said the bill also clarifies which entities will perform autopsies in maternal deaths and addresses longstanding difficulty obtaining psychiatric records and other clinical information needed to determine causes and contributing factors.
Representative Cannon and others urged support, describing persistent racial and geographic disparities in maternal deaths. Representative Cannon highlighted transportation barriers and social determinants that can prevent pregnant Georgians from getting timely care; she asked the body to support expanded perinatal resources and to ensure timely Department of Public Health reporting.
A point of history arose during debate: some members said the previous maternal mortality review committee had been disbanded earlier in the year amid confidentiality breaches, and the bill’s sponsor and supporters said the new committee structure is meant to restore trust and ensure consistent membership. Chairman Cooper said the reconstituted committee has met and is functioning.
The House adopted the committee substitute and voted to pass the bill. The clerk recorded the vote as yeas 68, nays 7; the bill having received the requisite constitutional majority was therefore passed.
Supporters said the measure will improve data access to permit more complete reviews and better-targeted prevention work; opponents urged continued oversight to prevent future lapses in committee confidentiality and membership continuity.
