🚨Texans! We have a call for community action! 🚨
The Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee (MMMRC) report is late. We need you to show up and urge the MMMRC and DSHS to release the report by October 1.
What is the MMMRC?
The Texas MMMRC is a legislative committee tasked with reviewing:
- 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.
Why is the report late?
Every two years the MMMRC is supposed to release a report on the state’s maternal health data and policy recommendations. This report is usually released on September 1.
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) stated the report is being delayed to December 1. DSHS is saying the due date was changed due to a new provision in the Texas Health and Safety code that was enacted during the 89th Regular Legislative Session in 2024. That said, this new provision does not prohibit the report from being released sooner than December 1st.
This is not the first time the report has been delayed. In 2022, Texas’ maternal mortality report was also due in September and was delayed. It was ultimately released in December, after the November election. DSHS said at the time that the delay was necessary to complete its review of 2019 deaths; advocates raised concerns about the timing and pushed for its release.
At public MMMRC meetings the committee said the report was on track to be released September 1, so what changed? Why will the report not be released until after the General Election? We want to know.
Why is it important?
The findings from this report help inform evidence-based strategies to prevent future pregnancy-related morbidity and mortality. This report being delayed prevents lawmakers from being able to use the reports findings to file bills ahead of the 2027 legislative session based off the reports recommendations.
In a state like Texas, where maternal mortality has increased dramatically over the past few years, this work is more important than ever.
For more information on this check out these articles:
Deadline to release 2026 Maternal Mortality Report arrives after midterm elections | KXAN Austin
Our original plan:
URGE and several other organizations had planned to attend the MMMRC’s quarterly meeting on Friday, Sept 25. We intended to be present, hear directly from state leaders and the committee, ask questions, and make sure community voices are represented.
Over the weekend, we learned that the portion of the meeting we intended to attend would be closed to the public.
The committee has historically conducted portions of its meetings in closed executive session for confidential case review. This said, DSHS’s own website still lists Sept 25th as a public meeting despite these changes.
Our voices will still be heard.
How to take action:
Let’s show them that we are watching and our voices will not go unheard. Here’s how we will be showing up.
The ‘Peoples hearing’
When: Friday, September 25th at 9:00am CT
Where: Outside the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Robert Moreton
1100 West 49th Street, Austin, Texas 78756
What:
After a short press conference outside the DSHS building we will be walking to the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin (4700 Grover Ave, Austin, TX 78756) to have a community storytelling hour and postcard writing event.
To get more up to date information and ways to take action, RSVP at this link.
Want to speak at the gathering or submit a written virtual comment?
Since we are no longer able to speak in person at the MMMRC meeting we will be holding our own “Peoples hearing” where members of the community are able to share what they would have given as their public comment.
Not able to make it to the event?
There are several other ways you can take action if you are not able to attend our gathering.
- You can also share your story virtually at this link.
- You can email the MMMRC and DSHS your concerns at this link.
- And you can uplift this on social media.
Best Practices for Public Comment
- Provide information that you can speak on from your perspective. Maybe you are a parent, you know a parent, you work in health care or mental health care… whatever it is that brings you to this meeting, speak on that.
- Suggestion for how to structure your public comment:
- Introduce yourself, include what city you’re from and/or what role you play in the community (i.e. nurse, birthworker, parent, mother, etc.)
- State the issue at hand, what have you come to talk about?
- What is your personal connection to this issue? Maybe bring in a story or experience.
- If you don’t want to bring in a personal experience or don’t think you have one you can also talk about data and numbers
- What do you recommend? Or what are you for or against?
- Thank the committee for their time
For questions about this action please email ive@urge.org.
