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Bill

HB 1403

Severe Maternal Mortality Surveillance and Review Program; established.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Bonita Anthony and 4 co-sponsors

Virginia expands maternal mortality oversight by renaming the review team and mandating a public data dashboard to track deaths and improve healthcare accountability.

Approved by Governor-Chapter 842 (effective 7/1/2026)
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Bill Summary · HB 1403

Legislative bill overview

HB 1403 renames Virginia's maternal mortality review process and expands its scope to include a comprehensive data dashboard for tracking maternal deaths and related outcomes. The bill enhances the review team's duties to collect, analyze, and publicly report on maternal mortality data with greater transparency and accessibility.

Why is this important

Maternal mortality remains a significant public health concern, with disparities affecting certain communities disproportionately. By creating a centralized data dashboard and formalizing review procedures, Virginia aims to identify systemic barriers, improve clinical practices, and hold healthcare systems accountable for reducing preventable maternal deaths.

Potential points of contention

  • Data privacy vs. transparency trade-off: Balancing the need to publicly report maternal death data with protecting patient and provider privacy; identifying individuals or specific facilities could discourage participation or create liability concerns
  • Resource allocation and implementation costs: The fiscal impact statement suggests appropriation needs; legislators may debate whether funding is adequate and whether resources should prioritize prevention or investigation
  • Scope creep and team capacity: Expanding the review team's duties without proportional staffing increases could overwhelm the program or dilute its effectiveness in investigating root causes

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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