The executive commissioner must create an independent mortality review system and adopt reporting rules for certain deaths involving people with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Sec. 546.0702. MORTALITY REVIEW SYSTEM. (a) The executive commissioner shall establish an independent mortality review system to review the death of an individual with an intellectual or developmental disability who, at the time of the individual's death or at any time during the 24-hour period preceding the individual's death: (1) resided in or received services from: (A) an ICF-IID operated or licensed by the commission or a community center; or (B) the ICF-IID component of the Rio Grande State Center; or (2) received services through a Section 1915(c) waiver program for individuals who are eligible for ICF-IID services. (b) The executive commissioner shall contract with an institution of higher education or a health care organization or association with experience in conducting research-based mortality studies to conduct independent mortality reviews of individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability. The contract must require the contracted organization to form a review team consisting of: (1) a physician with expertise regarding the medical treatment of individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability; (2) a registered nurse with expertise regarding the medical treatment of individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability; (3) a clinician or other professional with expertise in the delivery of services and supports for individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability; and (4) any other appropriate individual as the executive commissioner provides. (c) A review under this subchapter must be conducted: (1) in addition to any review conducted by the facility in which the individual resided or the facility, agency, or provider from which the individual received services; and (2) after any investigation of alleged or suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation is completed. (d) To ensure consistency across mortality review systems, a review under this subchapter must collect information consistent with the information required to be collected by another independent mortality review process established specifically for individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability. (e) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules regarding the manner in which the death of an individual described by Subsection (a) must be reported to the contracted organization by a facility or waiver program provider described by that subsection. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 769 (H.B. 4611), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2025.