Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force

The task force and DSHS must submit a joint report on the findings of the task force and recommendations to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the House of Representatives, and appropriate committees of the Texas Legislature by September 1 of each even-numbered year, beginning September 1, 2016.

[3] Although improvements in health care facilitated a dramatic decline in maternal mortality worldwide during the 20th century, women still die from complications of pregnancy, though there are significant differences in the top causes per region and income class.

In 1994 the period of measurement for a "maternal-related death" after childbirth was extended from six weeks to a year after the "birth event".

[1] The estimated maternal mortality rate (per 100,000 live births) for 48 states and Washington, DC (excluding California and Texas) increased by 26.6%, from 18.8 in 2000 to 23.8 in 2014.

[6] It may also be related to discrimination in health care for black women, which can take the form of reduced access to services and information.