Posted on June 1, 2023
HARTFORD- State Rep. Holly Cheeseman (R-37) strongly supported a bill in the House of Representatives today that looks to stop maternal death and intimate partner violence by providing early intervention, appropriate referrals and improve outcomes.
“The distribution of this life-saving information through the state Department of Public Health will promote the importance of intimate partner violence screening and would allow survivors to be able to access a list of providers where they can feel safe and heard,” said Rep. Cheeseman, who has been a long-time supporter of Safe Futures, the domestic violence organization which assists victims in southeastern Connecticut.
The bill HB-6599, An Act Concerning Intimate Partner Violence and Other Domestic Violence requires the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) Maternal Mortality Review Committee to develop educational materials on intimate partner violence toward pregnant and postpartum individuals by January 1, 2024. DPH must distribute the materials to each of the state’s birthing hospitals, obstetricians, and other health care providers who practice obstetrics for them to provide to pregnant and postpartum patients.
Additionally, starting by January 1, 2024, the bill allows any of the state’s licensed health care providers who screen patients for domestic violence to submit documentation to DPH demonstrating that they do so. They may do this annually, and as DPH prescribes. Starting by January 1, 2025, DPH must maintain and publish on the department’s website an annual list of providers who submit this documentation and who the commissioner determines screen patients for domestic violence.
By law, the Maternal Mortality Review Committee conducts comprehensive, multidisciplinary reviews of maternal deaths to identify associated factors and makes recommendations to reduce these deaths.
The bill passed unanimously in the House 145-0 and now moves to the State Senate for further action.