Maryland SB 445: Maryland Health Care Commission - Surgical Birth Rate - Study

Bill Text

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0445*

SENATE BILL 445
J1 9lr2439
CF HB 247
By: Senators Klausmeier, Benson, Eckardt, and Washington
Introduced and read first time: February 1, 2019
Assigned to: Finance

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Maryland Health Care Commission – Surgical Birth Rate – Study 2

FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Health Care Commission, in consultation with 3
the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, the Vital Statistics Administration, and 4
interested stakeholders, to conduct a study regarding the surgical birth rate in the 5
State; requiring that the stakeholders consulted during the study include certain 6
persons; requiring the Commission to examine certain matters, research certain 7
programs, and make certain recommendations; requiring the Commission to report 8
its findings and recommendations to certain committees of the General Assembly on 9
or before a certain date; and generally relating to a study of the surgical birth rate 10
in the State. 11

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That: 13

(a) (1) The Maryland Health Care Commission, in consultation with the 14
Maternal and Child Health Bureau, the Vital Statistics Administration, and interested 15
stakeholders, shall conduct a study regarding the surgical birth rate in the State. 16

(2) The stakeholders consulted under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall 17
include: 18

(i) maternal health practitioners; 19

(ii) representatives of the Maryland Hospital Association; 20

(iii) maternal health consumer advocates; and 21

(iv) any other stakeholders the Maryland Health Care Commission 22
determines necessary. 23

2 SENATE BILL 445

(b) In conducting the study required under subsection (a)(1) of this section, the 1
Maryland Health Care Commission shall: 2

(1) examine factors contributing to the State’s surgical birth rate, including 3
the rate of elective and nonelective cesarean sections, the rate of primary and repeat 4
cesarean sections, and the rate of vaginal births after cesarean; 5

(2) examine increased complications for women and babies in births by 6
cesarean section; 7

(3) examine increased health care costs associated with surgical births; 8

(4) research programs in other countries, states, and localities that have 9
aimed to reduce the surgical birth rate; and 10

(5) make recommendations regarding methods that may be implemented 11
to reduce the surgical birth rate in the State. 12

(c) On or before November 1, 2020, the Maryland Health Care Commission shall 13
report its findings and recommendations, including any draft legislation, to the Senate 14
Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, 15
and the House Health and Government Operations Committee, in accordance with § 16
2–1246 of the State Government Article. 17

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 18
1, 2019. 19