Chapter 83 of the 2018 State Laws of Maryland requires the Maryland Health Care Commission, in consultation with the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities, the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, the Vital Statistics Administration, and interested stakeholders, to conduct a study regarding the mortality rates of African American infants and infants in rural areas. The Commission is required to submit findings and recommendations to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Health and Government Operations Committee in late 2019.

The Maryland Health Care Commission has convened a work group to provide advice on the study.  The work group has three subgroups: A data analytics subgroup; a subgroup examining innovative programs; and a subgroup focused on community and consumer experience. Meeting dates and meeting materials for the work group and for each sub group are listed below. All meetings are open to the public. All meetings are scheduled to be held at the Maryland Health Care Commission, Room 100, 4160 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21215 unless specifically noted. All meetings will have an option for remote access (information will be included in the agenda, which will be posted before the meeting).  

Meetings and Documents

Final Report, November 1, 2019

• Report
• Appendix A: Data on Factors Associated with Infant Mortality in African American Infants and Infants in Rural Communities in Maryland
  • Appendix A2: Infant Mortality among African American & Rural Populations in Maryland: Epidemiology
  • Appendix A3: Opportunities for Reducing Infant Mortality Rates:  Perinatal Period of Risk (PPOR) Findings for Maryland Counties
• Appendix B: Economic Costs Associated with Preterm Birth, Low Birth Weight Infants and Infant Mortality
• Appendix C: Narrative Synthesis of Risk Factors for Infant Mortality Among African American and Rural Populations in the U.S.
•  Appendix D: What Works to Save Babies’ Lives? Reviews of Interventions to Reduce Mortality among African American and Rural Community Infants
• Appendix E: Inventory of Programs in Maryland
  • Appendix E2: Survey Instrument
  • Appendix E3: Website Extraction Table
• Appendix F:  Community Health Worker Programs Qualitative Study: Summary and Detailed findings.
  •  Appendix F2: Interview Protocol
• Appendix G: Issue paper: Potential Placement of Permanent Council on Disparities in Infant Mortality
• Appendix H: Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations
• Appendix I: Workgroup Structure and Participants
• Appendix J: List of Birthing Hospitals in Maryland 

October 17, 2019 MHCC Commission Meeting

• Report
• UPDATED Appendix A: Detailed Data Analysis
  • Appendix A2: MCH Presentation 
  • NEW Appendix A3: Perinatal Period of Risk Analysis  
• Appendix B: Cost Literature
• Appendix C: Risk Factors Literature Review
• Appendix D: Effective Programs Literature Review 
• Appendix E: Inventory of Maryland Programs 
  • Appendix E2: Survey Instrument 
  • Appendix E3: Website Extraction Table
• Appendix F: Interviews about Community Health Workers
  • Appendix F2: Interview Protocol 
• Appendis G: Issue Paper Permenant Council 
• Appendix H: Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations
• Appendix I: Workgroup Structure and Participants
• Appendix J: List of Birthing Hospitals in Maryland  

October 1, 2019, 2:30-4:30

• Agenda
• Evaluation Form 
• Meeting Summary 
• Report Draft

Draft for Sept 19 MHCC Commission Review

• Report for Commission Review
• Appendix A: Detailed Data Analysis
  • Appendix A2: MCH Presentation 
• Appendix B: Cost Literature
• Appendix C: Risk Factors Literature Review
• Appendix D: Effective Programs Literature Review 
• Appendix E: Inventory of Maryland Programs 
  • Appendix E2: Survey Instrument 
  • Appendix E3: Website Extraction Table
• Appendix F: Interviews about Community Health Workers
  • Appendix F2: Interview Protocol 
• Appendis G: Issue Paper Permenant Council 
• Appendix H: Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations
• Appendix I: Workgroup Structure and Participants
• Appendix J: List of Birthing Hospitals in Maryland  

August 27, 2:30-4:30

• Agenda
• Meeting Summary
• Report
• Appendix A: Detailed Data Analysis
  • Appendix A2: MCH Presentation 
• Appendix B: Cost Literature
• Appendix C: Risk Factors Literature Review
• Appendix D: Effective Programs Literature Review 
• Appendix E: Inventory of Maryland Programs 
• Appendix F: Interviews about Community Health Workers
  • Appendix F2: Interview Protocol 
• Appendis G: Issue Paper Permenant Council 
• Appendix H: Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations
• Appendix I: Workgroup Structure and Participants
• Appendix J: List of Birthing Hospitals in Maryland 

July 30, 12:00-1:00 PM, Work Group Conference Call

• Agenda
• Recommendations discussion document 
• Meeting Summary 

July 19, 3-5 PM, Work Group Meeting

• Agenda
• Meeting Summary  
• Handout from Maryland Patient Safety Center 
• Recommendations discussion document 
• Council Issue Paper 
• Health General Section 13-1213 
• Excerpt from SB 38, 2017 

• Agenda
• Meeting Summary
• Program Inventory
• Program Inventory Survey
• Program Inventory Web Extraction Spreadsheet (available on request) 

April 9, 2019, 3:00-5:00 PM, Work Group Meeting

• Agenda
• Meeting Summary 
• Preliminary Draft Literature Reviews for Discussion
  • Risk Factors for Infant Mortality: A Literature Review on Risk Factors for Infant Mortality in African American Infants and Infants in Rural Communities
  • What Works to Save Babies’ Lives? Reviews of Interventions to Reduce Mortality among African American and Rural Community Infants
  • Exploring the Roles of Community Health Workers and Patient Navigators to Improve Birth Outcomes: A Literature Review
• Presentations
  • University of Maryland School of Public Health Team: Introduction
  • "Effective Programs" Literature Review Results
  • "Risk Factors" Literature Review Results
  • Legislation from 2019 Session Related to Infant and Maternal Health and Wellbeing

January 7, 2019, 3:00-5:00 PM, Work Group Meeting

• Agenda 
• Discussion Guide
• Background Documents
  • Overview of Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities
  • 2017 Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities Annual Report
• Meeting Summary