SB 2542

AN ACT TO ENACT THE MISSISSIPPI MATERNAL HEALTH PROTECTION ACT; TO REQUIRE PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE A MINIMUM OF 12 MONTHS OF POSTPARTUM CARE, INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT; TO REQUIRE TIMELY POSTPARTUM FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS BY PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND CLINICS; TO REQUIRE PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES TO ADOPT CERTAIN EVIDENCE-BASED MATERNAL SAFETY PROTOCOLS AND TO REPORT MATERNAL MORBIDITY DATA TO THE DEPARTMENT; TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT TO ISSUE CORRECTIVE ACTION PLANS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES THAT FAIL TO IMPLEMENT SAFETY PROTOCOLS; TO AUTHORIZE THE MATERNAL MORTALITY REVIEW COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED UNDER SECTION 41-112-1 TO REVIEW ALL PREGNANCY-RELATED DEATHS WITHIN THE STATE, TO IDENTIFY SYSTEMIC CAUSES ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH DEATHS AND TO PUBLISH AN ANNUAL REPORT WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PREVENTING SUCH DEATHS; TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT TO ESTABLISH A MATERNAL EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION FUND AND TO OUTLINE OBJECTIVES AND APPROVED FUND USES; TO SET FORTH LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS; TO DEFINE CERTAIN TERMS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.