An official State of Texas website.
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. 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. Betsy Briscoe
Rural hospital representative
Andrews
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. James Hill
Obstetrics-gynecology
San Antonio
Dr. Sangeeta Jain
Obstetrics-gynecology
League City
Dr. David Lam
Neonatologist in Level III or IV NICU
San Antonio
Dara Lankford, RN
Nurse with expertise in perinatal health
Fort Worth
Dr. David B. Nelson
Maternal fetal medicine
Dallas
Dr. Kirsten Robinson
Pediatrician
Lubbock
Ms Kyla Stephens
Representative from a hospital with Level II NICU
Brownwood
Ms Antay Waters, DNP, CNM
Nurse with expertise in maternal health
Texarkana
Emily Rocha
Ex-officio
Austin
Open
Neonatologist in Level III or IV NICU
Meetings
All meetings will be virtual via Microsoft Teams.
- March 20, 2025, 9 a.m.
- June 6, 2025, 9 a.m.
- September 4, 2025, 9 a.m.
- December 17, 2025, 9 a.m.
For More Information
Email us at Perinatal Advisory Council.
Learn more about the 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.