HI HB698

Requires the Department of Human Services to collect and publish annual reports on severe maternal morbidity data, disaggregated by county and racial/ethnic identity, beginning June 30, 2022.

Establishes a maternal disparity and health equity task force within the Department of Human Services to review maternal health policies and recommend improvements, with special focus on outcomes for women of color.

Requires the task force to submit an initial report to the legislature no later than 20 days before the 2022 regular session, with annual updates thereafter.

Mandates the Department of Health to develop and the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women to administer implicit bias training for all health care professionals in perinatal facilities, with initial training required within 60 days of enactment and refresher courses every two years.

Defines implicit bias, implicit prejudice, and implicit stereotypes; specifies 13 health conditions for morbidity tracking including obstetric hemorrhage, preeclampsia, sepsis, and blood transfusion.