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Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee


The Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee (MMMRC) is a 23-member multidisciplinary committee. Chapter 34, Texas Health and Safety Code, Section 34.002, 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).  


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. The MMMRC also studies state trends in maternal morbidity and mortality rates and disparities 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.

A committee member must regularly participate in case review calls and committee meetings. Committee meetings are held in Austin or virtually at least quarterly or at the call of the DSHS Commissioner. In-person meeting participation is strongly encouraged. The MMMRC may also ask members 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 consecutive 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 the application process, contact Kobi Ajayi at MaternalHealth@dshs.texas.gov.  


Background and Purpose

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. 


Meetings

DSHS posts future and past Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee (MMMRC)  meeting materials and information.

Future Meetings

Below are the future public meeting dates, venue, and agenda. DSHS posts meeting agendas when they become available.

Date*

Venue*

Agenda

Friday, December 6, 2024

Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)

Robert Moreton Building

Room M-100, First Floor

1100 West 49th Street

Austin, Texas 78756

Under preparation

Friday, March 7, 2025

Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)

Robert Moreton Building

Room M-100, First Floor

1100 West 49th Street

Austin, Texas 78756

 

Friday, June 13, 2025

Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)

Robert Moreton Building

Room M-100, First Floor

1100 West 49th Street

Austin, Texas 78756

 

Thursday, September 11, 2025

Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)

Robert Moreton Building

Room M-100, First Floor

1100 West 49th Street

Austin, Texas 78756

 

Friday, December 5, 2025

Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)

Robert Moreton Building

Room M-100, First Floor

1100 West 49th Street

Austin, Texas 78756

 

*Dates and venue are subject to change.

Past Meetings

Below are the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee (MMMRC) approved minutes and webcast links for past meetings. The first public meeting of the MMMRC was held on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017.

Date

Meeting Minutes

Webcast Recording

Friday, September 27, 2024

 

Webcast-27Sept2024

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Minutes-18June2024

Webcast-18June2024

Friday, March 22, 2024

Minutes-22Mar2024

Webcast-22Mar2024

Friday, December 8, 2023

Minutes-8Dec2023

Webcast-8Dec2023

Thursday, September 7, 2023

Minutes-7Sept2023

Webcast-7Sept2023

Friday, June 2, 2023

Minutes-2June2023

Webcast-2June2023

Friday, March 3, 2023

Minutes-3Mar2023

Webcast-3Mar2023

Friday, December 9, 2022

Minutes-9Dec2022

Webcast-9Dec2022

Friday, September 2, 2022

Minutes-2Sept2022

Webcast-2Sept2022

Friday, June 3, 2022

Minutes-3Jun2022

Webcast-3June2022

Friday, March 4, 2022

Minutes-4Mar2022

Webcast-4March2022

Friday, December 3, 2021

Minutes-3Dec2021

Webcast-3Dec2021

Friday, September 10, 2021

Closed meeting

Closed meeting

Friday, June 4, 2021

Minutes-4Jun2021

Webcast-4June2021

Friday, March 5, 2021

Minutes-5Mar2021

Webcast-5Mar2021

Friday, December 11, 2020

Minutes-11Dec2020

Webcast-11Dec2020

Friday, September 18, 2020

Minutes-18Sept2020

Webcast-18Sept2020

Friday, March 6, 2020

Minutes-6Mar2020

Webcast-6Mar2020