The Texas Department of State Health Services opportunity

This past legislative session, the Texas Legislature adopted House Bill 852, expanding the composition of the state’s Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee to include physicians practicing in emergency medicine. The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is now formally seeking applications for these members, whose applications must be submitted by midnight, Nov. 30, 2023

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is currently seeking members for the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee (MMMRC). 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 MMMRC. DSHS is currently accepting committee membership applications for the following new or vacant positions:

Community member with experience in a relevant health care field, including a field involving the analysis of health care data, who must represent a rural area of this state;
Community member with experience in a relevant health care field, including a field involving the analysis of health care data, who must represent an urban area of this state;
Physician specializing in emergency care;
Physician specializing in cardiology;
Physician specializing in anesthesiology;
Physician specializing in oncology; and
Representative of a managed care organization.

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m., November 30, 2023. The DSHS Commissioner will appoint members to the committee to serve a six-year term or to complete the term of a current vacancy. Terms may be shortened or lengthened to comply with statute.

State law requires DSHS to include committee members who represent Texas’ diversity. For this reason, DSHS will consider each applicant’s qualifications, background, demographic characteristics, and interest in serving on the committee.

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

Email: [email protected]
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 if they have been selected once the solicitation process is complete.

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.

A committee member must regularly participate in case review calls and committee meetings. Committee meetings will be held in Austin or virtually at least quarterly or at the call of the DSHS Commissioner. In-person meeting participation is strongly encouraged. 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 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 about applying to be on the committee, contact us at [email protected].