Perinatal Advisory Council

The Perinatal Advisory Council, created by House Bill 15 of the 83rd Texas Legislature (Regular Session), developed and recommended criteria for designating levels of neonatal and maternal care, including specifying the minimum requirements to qualify for each level designation and a process for the assignment of levels of care to a hospital, and made recommendations for dividing the state into neonatal and maternal care regions. The Perinatal Advisory Council continues to examine utilization trends in neonatal and maternal care and recommends ways to improve neonatal and maternal outcomes.

House Bill 3433 of the 84th Texas Legislature (Regular Session) amended House Bill 15 by adding two new members to PAC and extended the date of its report. The council submitted a report with its recommendations to the Health and Human Services Commission and the Department of State Health Services in September 2016. The report was published on time and can be found here:

PAC Report on Determinations and Recommendations (PDF)

Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorder Subcommittee

Texas HB 1164 enacted by the Texas 87th Regular Legislative session empowers PAC, with input from subject matter experts, stakeholders, researchers, patient advocates, DSHS and other interested individuals, to develop considerations for patient safety practices and recommendations for maternal rules related to the diagnosis, referral, transport, and management of women with Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorders. To prepare initial considerations, a PAC PASD Subcommittee has been established with intent to develop impactful and reasonable recommendations based on input from any diverse individuals with interest, lived experience, or expertise with this condition.

The subcommittee met several times with stakeholders and experts then presented maternal rule language revisions in two PAC meetings which resulted in these two documents being submitted to Commissioner John Hellerstedt, MD on Oct. 20, 2021.

Members

Dr. Patrick Ramsey, Chair  
Maternal fetal medicine  
San Antonio

Dr. Sadhana Chheda, Co chair  
Neonatologist in Level III or IV NICU  
El Paso

Dr. Carlos Anaya  
Neonatologist  
McAllen

Sharn Barbarin  
General hospital representative  
Trophy Club

Dr. Adrian Billings  
Family medicine physician who provides obstetrical care in a rural community  
Alpine

Ms. Patricia Carr  
Children's hospital representative  
Corpus Christi

Dr. Linda Chase  
Neonatologist from rural area  
Lufkin

Dr. Stephaine Diehlmann  
Family medicine physician who provides obstetrical care in a rural community  
Sunray

Stephanie Ferguson, RN  
Rural Hospital representative  
Childress

Dr. Vinayak Govande  
Neonatologist in Level III or IV NICU  
Round Rock

Dr. James Hill  
Obstetrics-gynecology  
San Antonio

Dr. Sangeeta Jain  
Obstetrics-gynecology  
League City

Dara Lankford, RN  
Nurse with expertise in perinatal health  
Fort Worth

Mattie Mason  
Representative from a hospital with Level II NICU  
Houston

Dr. David B. Nelson  
Maternal fetal medicine  
Dallas

Karen Rhodes, RN  
Nurse with expertise in maternal health  
Brownsville

Dr. Kirsten Robinson  
Pediatrician  
Lubbock

Emily Rocha  
Ex-officio  
Austin

Open  
Rural hospital representative

Meetings

All meetings will be virtual via Microsoft Teams.

  • March 28, 2024, 9 a.m.
  • June 13, 2024, 9 a.m.
  • Sept. 12, 2024, 9 a.m.
  • Dec. 12, 2024, 9 a.m.

For More Information

Email us at Perinatal Advisory Council.

Learn more about Perinatal Draft Rules.

Learn more about the Neonatal Levels of Care Rule regarding hospital designation.

Learn more about the Maternal Levels of Care Rule regarding hospital designation.

Learn more about the Centers of Excellence for Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy rule.

Meetings

December 13, 2023

September 20, 2023

June 15, 2023

March 23, 2023

December 7, 2022

October 26, 2022

July 27, 2022

March 30, 2022