Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee

The Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee (MMMRC) is a 17-member multidisciplinary committee. Chapter 34, Texas Health and Safety Code, directs the MMMRC to study and review: 

• Cases of pregnancy-related deaths; 
• Trends, rates, or disparities in pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity; 
• Health conditions and factors that disproportionately affect the most at-risk populations; and 
• Best practices and programs operating in other states that have reduced rates of deaths related to pregnancy. 

Through this process, the MMMRC develops recommendations to help reduce the incidence of preventable pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity in the state. 

Download the current member roster (PDF).  

Members Sought for the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee

If you are interested in the statewide effort to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities for pregnant and postpartum women in Texas, you may be interested in joining the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee (MMMRC). The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is currently accepting committee membership applications for the following positions:

• Physician specializing in Obstetrics;
• Physician specializing in Obstetrics, Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist;
• Physician specializing in Pathology;
• Physician specializing in Psychiatry;
• Social Worker or Social Service Provider; and
• Medical Examiner.

The DSHS Commissioner will appoint members to the committee to serve a six-year term or to complete the term of a current vacancy. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m., June 30, 2023.

• Application
• Application Letter 

DSHS will consider each applicant’s qualifications, background, and interest in serving on the committee. DSHS also tries to choose committee members who represent Texas diversity. For this reason, DSHS also considers each applicant’s ethnicity, gender, and geographic location.

You may submit the application by email, mail, or fax. 

Email: MaternalHealth@dshs.texas.gov

Mail:
Department of State Health Services
PO Box 149347
Mail Code 1922
Austin, TX 78714-9347
Attn: Lauren Cenac

Fax: 512-776-7658
Attn: Lauren Cenac

DSHS will notify applicants by October 1, 2023, if they have been selected.

About the MMMRC

Texas Health and Safety, Code Chapter 34 directs the MMMRC to study and review:

• Cases of pregnancy-related deaths;
• Trends, rates, or disparities in pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity;
• Health conditions and factors that disproportionately affect the most at-risk populations; and
• Best practices and programs operating in other states that have reduced rates of deaths related to pregnancy.

The MMMRC uses standard methods to review identified pregnancy-associated death cases to determine cause of death and pregnancy-relatedness. For deaths determined to be pregnancy-related, the MMMRC builds consensus to determine potential preventability, contributing factors, and actionable recommendations. State trends in maternal morbidity and mortality rates and disparities are also studied to aid recommendation development.

Through this process, the MMMRC develops recommendations to help reduce the incidence of preventable pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity in the state.

The committee must include representatives of each of the following:

• Four physicians specializing in obstetrics, at least one of whom is a maternal fetal medicine specialist;
• One certified nurse-midwife;
• One registered nurse;
• One nurse specializing in labor and delivery;
• One physician specializing in family practice;
• One physician specializing in psychiatry;
• One physician specializing in pathology;
• One epidemiologist, biostatistician, or researcher of pregnancy-related deaths;
• One social worker or social service provider;
• One community advocate in a relevant field;
• One medical examiner or coroner responsible for recording death;
• One physician specializing in critical care;
• A representative of the department's family and community health programs; and
• The state’s epidemiologist for the department or the epidemiologist's designee.

A committee member must regularly participate in case review calls and committee meetings. Committee meetings will be held in Austin, Texas, or virtually at least quarterly or at the call of the DSHS Commissioner. In-person meeting participation is preferred. Members may also be asked to participate in subcommittee meetings, projects, and presentations. Committee members do not receive reimbursement for travel expenses to participate on the committee. If a member misses three quarterly meetings within a one-year period with or without notice, the member may be removed from the committee.

For more information about the committee or about applying to be on the committee, contact Lauren Cenac at MaternalHealth@dshs.texas.gov.

The Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force was created by the 2013 Senate Bill 495, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session which added Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 34. The name of the Task Force was changed to the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee (MMMRC) by 2019 Senate Bill 750, 86th Legislature, Regular Session in alignment with the federal Preventing Maternal Deaths Act of 2018. Later in 2019, the Texas Department of State Health Services and MMMRC were awarded a Center for Disease Control and Prevention funding for the for the Enhancing Reviews and Surveillance to Eliminate Maternal Mortality (ERASE MM) Program.   

Subcommittee on Maternal Health Disparities 

In December 2018, the MMMRC established the Subcommittee on Maternal Health Disparities to further investigate factors contributing to disparities in maternal mortality. More information on the Subcommittee on Maternal Health Disparities and its activities can be found in the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee and Department of State Health Services Joint Biennial Report, December 2022. 

Below are the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee (MMMRC) public meeting dates, agenda, approved minutes, and webcast links. The first public meeting of the MMMRC was held on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017. DSHS posts meeting dates. agenda, approved meeting minutes, and webcasts when they become available.

• Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee and Department of State Health Services Joint Biennial Report 2022

• Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee and Department of State Health Services Joint Biennial Report, December 2020 

• Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force and Department of State Health Services Joint Biennial Report, September 2018 

• Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force and Department of State Health Services Joint Biennial Report, July 2016 

• Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force Report, September 2014