3. a. There is hereby established in the Department of Health the New Jersey Maternal Care Quality Collaborative (NJMCQC). Until the conditions set forth in subsection c. of section 4 of P.L.2023, c.109 (C. 26:18-20) are met, the NJMCQC shall work with the Governor’s office to coordinate all efforts and strategies to reduce maternal mortality, mobility, and racial and ethnic disparities in the State. At such time as the conditions set forth in subsection c. of section 4 of P.L.2023, c.109 (C. 26:18-20) are met, the NJMCQC shall reorganize under the authority, and shall work under the supervision and oversight of the board established pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2023, c.109 (C. 26:18-21) to coordinate efforts and strategies to reduce maternal mortality, morbidity, and racial and ethnic disparities in the State; however, notwithstanding this reorganization, at such time as the conditions set forth in subsection c. of section 4 of P.L.2023, c.109 (C. 26:18-20) are met, oversight and supervision of the Maternal Mortality Review Committee shall be assumed by the Department of Health.

b. The NJMCQC shall work collaboratively with current organizations that are developing and implementing maternal mortality and morbidity reduction strategies, including the New Jersey Hospital Association’s Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative.

c. The NJMCQC shall be composed of 39 members, including eight ex-officio members and 31 public members appointed by the Governor.

(1) The ex officio members shall include the following persons or their designees:

the Deputy Commissioner of Health Systems in the Department of Health;

the Deputy Commissioner of Public Health Services in the Department of Health;

the Director of the Office of Minority and Multicultural Health in the Department of Health;

the Director of the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services;

the Assistant Commissioner of Health and Life Insurance Plans in the Department of Banking and Insurance;

the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety;

the Director of the New Jersey Maternal Data Center in the Department of Health; and

the president and chief executive officer of the authority, who shall serve as chairperson of the NJMCQC.

(2) The public members appointed by the Governor shall include members representing each of the following groups:

the New Jersey Hospital Association;

the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute;

the Catholic HealthCare Partnership of New Jersey;

the Hospital Alliance of New Jersey;

the Fair Share Hospitals Collaborative;

the New Jersey section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists;

the New Jersey Affiliate of the American College of Nurse Midwives;

the New Jersey Medical Society;

two medical directors of health plans in the State, as recommended to the commissioner by the President of the New Jersey Association of Health Plans;

the New Jersey Section of the Association of Women’s Health Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses;

the New Jersey Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians;

a New Jersey affiliate of Planned Parenthood;

the New Jersey Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons;

the New Jersey Primary Care Association;

the Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey;

the Central Jersey Family Health Consortium;

the Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative;

each of the four existing Regional Health Hubs or any successor organization to that Regional Health Hub;

the Perinatal Health Equity Initiative; and

eight additional public members appointed on the recommendation of the Governor, including: one member who is engaged in maternal health advocacy; one member who is engaged in health equity advocacy; one member who has personal experience in receiving perinatal services in one of the 10 New Jersey municipalities with the highest infant mortality rates in the State; one member who has expertise in maternal or infant health workforce development or graduate health education; one member who has expertise in behavioral health; one member who has expertise in providing doula services; one member who expertise in providing lactation services as an international board certified lactation consultant; and one member who is engaged in healthcare consumer advocacy.

d. The public members of the NJMCQC shall serve without compensation and shall each serve for a term of three years. Each public member shall serve for the term of appointment and shall serve until a successor is appointed and qualified, except that a public member may be reappointed to the NJMCQC upon the expiration of the member’s term. Any vacancy in the membership shall be filled, for the unexpired term, in the same manner as the original appointment.

e. The board, in consultation with the NJMCQC, shall adopt and implement the strategic plan for the State of New Jersey to reduce maternal mortality, morbidity, and racial and ethnic disparities. The NJMCQC shall meet quarterly to develop recommendations to submit to the board for review and approval, which recommendations shall include, but shall not be limited to, proposed activities that forward the strategic plan, strategies on future activities, funding opportunities, action items based on the data generated and collected by the Maternal Data Center, the Healthcare Quality and Informatics Unit, the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, the Department of Health, and its partners, and strategies to communicate goals and achievement of these goals with stakeholders.

f. The board, in consultation with the NJMCQC, shall:

(1) (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2023, c.109)

(2) Apply for and accept any grant of money from the federal government, private foundations or other sources, which may be available for programs related to maternal mortality, morbidity, and racial and ethnic disparities;

(3) Coordinate with the Department of Health to receive federal funds specifically designated for programs concerning maternal mortality, morbidity, and racial and ethnic disparities;

(4) Enter into contracts with individuals, organizations, and institutions necessary for the performance of its duties under P.L.2019, c.75 (C. 26:18-1 et al.); and

(5) Establish and coordinate among subcommittees as necessary to achieve the purposes of the NJMCQC.

g. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2023, c.109)

L.2019, c.75, s.3; amended 2023, c.109, s.13.