HF 779

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 01/30/2023 08:36pm

A bill for an act
relating to health; requiring issuance of a grant to support a stillbirth prevention
through tracking fetal movement pilot program; appropriating money.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin STILLBIRTH PREVENTION THROUGH TRACKING FETAL
MOVEMENT PILOT PROGRAM.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin For purposes of this section, "fetal death" or "stillbirth"
means the death of a fetus of 20 or more weeks of gestation, but that does not include an
induced termination of pregnancy. A stillbirth may be classified as early, late, or term. An
early stillbirth is the death of a fetus occurring between 20 and 27 weeks of gestation. A
late stillbirth is the death of a fetus occurring between 28 and 36 weeks of gestation. A term
stillbirth is the death of a fetus of 37 or more weeks of gestation.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Grant. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of health shall issue a grant to a grant recipient to
support a stillbirth prevention through tracking fetal movement pilot program and to provide
evidence of the efficacy of tracking fetal movements in preventing stillbirths in the state.
The pilot program shall operate in fiscal years 2024, 2025, and 2026.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Use of grant funds. new text end

new text begin The grant recipient must use grant funds:
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new text begin (1) for activities to ensure that expectant parents in this state receive information about
the importance of tracking fetal movement in the third trimester of pregnancy, by providing
evidence-based information to organizations that include but are not limited to community
organizations, hospitals, birth centers, maternal health providers, and higher education
institutions that educate maternal health providers;
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new text begin (2) to provide maternal health providers and expectant parents in this state with access
to free, evidence-based educational materials on fetal movement tracking, including
brochures, posters, reminder cards, continuing education materials, and digital resources;
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new text begin (3) to assist in raising awareness with health care providers about:
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new text begin (i) the availability of free fetal movement tracking education for providers through an
initial education campaign;
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new text begin (ii) the importance of tracking fetal movement in the third trimester of pregnancy by
offering at least three to five webinars and conferences per year; and
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new text begin (iii) the importance of tracking fetal movement in the third trimester of pregnancy through
provider participation in a public relations campaign; and
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new text begin (4) to assist in raising public awareness about the availability of free fetal movement
tracking resources through social media marketing and traditional marketing throughout
the state.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Data-sharing and monitoring. new text end

new text begin (a) During the operation of the pilot program,
the grant recipient shall provide the following information to the commissioner on at least
a quarterly basis:
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new text begin (1) the number of educational materials distributed under the pilot program, broken
down by zip code and the type of facility or organization that ordered the materials, including
hospitals, birth centers, maternal health clinics, WIC clinics, and community organizations;
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new text begin (2) the number of fetal movement tracking application downloads that may be attributed
to the pilot program, broken down by zip code;
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new text begin (3) the reach of and engagement with marketing materials provided under the pilot
program; and
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new text begin (4) provider attendance and participation in awareness-raising events under the pilot
program, such as webinars and conferences.
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new text begin (b) Each year during the pilot program and at the conclusion of the pilot program, the
grant recipient shall provide the commissioner with an annual report that includes information
on how the pilot program has affected:
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new text begin (1) fetal death rates in the state;
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new text begin (2) fetal death rates in the state among American Indian, Black, Hispanic, and Asian
Pacific Islander populations; and
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new text begin (3) fetal death rates in zip codes in the state with high stillbirth rates.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Reports. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must submit to the legislative committees with
jurisdiction over public health, an interim report and a final report on the operation of the
pilot program. The interim report must be submitted by December 1, 2024, and the final
report must be submitted by December 1, 2026. Each report must at least describe the pilot
program's operations and provide information, to the extent available, on the effectiveness
of the pilot program in preventing stillbirths in the state, including lessons learned in
implementing the pilot program and recommendations for future action.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $125,000 in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of health for a grant to Healthy Birth Day, Inc., for the operation of a stillbirth prevention
through tracking fetal movement pilot program. This appropriation is available until June
30, 2027.
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