(1) Maternal deaths are a serious public health concern and have a tremendous familial and societal impact. Maternal deaths are significantly underestimated and inadequately documented, preventing efforts to identify and reduce or eliminate the causes of death.

(2) No processes exist in this Commonwealth for the confidential identification, investigation or dissemination of findings regarding maternal deaths.

(3) There is a need to establish a maternal mortality review program to review maternal deaths and to develop strategies for the prevention of maternal deaths.

(4) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that maternal deaths should be investigated through a State-based maternal mortality review committee in order to institute the systemic changes needed to decrease maternal mortality.

(5) There is a need to establish a formal process for the confidential identification and investigation of individual cases followed by the dissemination of aggregated, nonindividually identifiable findings regarding maternal deaths in this Commonwealth.

(6) There is a need to adopt programs, policies, recommendations and strategies based on collected data to prevent maternal deaths.

(7) There is a need to provide public information and education regarding the incidence and causes of maternal deaths and the reduction of risks to health care providers and facilities, key government agencies and the public.