82R1270 SJM-D
By: Villarreal H.B. No. 419
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the automatic enrollment of certain women in the
demonstration project for women's health care services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 32.0248, Human Resources Code, is
amended by amending Subsections (a), (g), and (i) and adding
Subsections (b-1) and (b-2) to read as follows:
(a) The department shall operate [establish] a [five-year]
demonstration project through the medical assistance program to
expand access to preventive health and family planning services for
women. A woman eligible [under Subsection (b)] to participate in
the demonstration project may receive appropriate preventive
health and family planning services, including:
(1) medical history recording and evaluation;
(2) physical examinations;
(3) health screenings, including screening for:
(A) diabetes;
(B) cervical cancer;
(C) breast cancer;
(D) sexually transmitted diseases;
(E) hypertension;
(F) cholesterol; and
(G) tuberculosis;
(4) counseling and education on contraceptive methods
emphasizing the health benefits of abstinence from sexual activity
to recipients who are not married, except for counseling and
education regarding emergency contraception;
(5) provision of contraceptives, except for the
provision of emergency contraception;
(6) risk assessment; and
(7) referral of medical problems to appropriate
providers that are entities or organizations that do not perform or
promote elective abortions or contract or affiliate with entities
that perform or promote elective abortions.
(b-1) On the 61st day after the date a woman who received
benefits through the medical assistance program during her
pregnancy gives birth, the department shall automatically enroll
the woman in the demonstration project for a period of 10 months if
she is otherwise eligible to participate in the project.
(b-2) The department shall modify any applicable
administrative procedures to ensure that a woman described by
Subsection (b-1) maintains continuous eligibility for any services
provided by both the medical assistance program and the
demonstration project during the transition from participation in
the medical assistance program to participation in the
demonstration project.
(g) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year,
the department shall submit a report to the legislature regarding
the department's operation of [progress in establishing and
operating] the demonstration project.
(i) This section expires September 1, 2021 [2011].
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a person who receives medical assistance under Chapter 32, Human
Resources Code, on or after the effective date of this Act,
regardless of the date on which eligibility for the medical
assistance was determined.
SECTION 3. If before implementing Section 32.0248, Human
Resources Code, as amended by this Act, a state agency determines
that an amendment to the existing waiver or other authorization is
necessary to extend the operation of the demonstration project for
women's health care services under that section as amended, the
agency affected by the provision shall request the amendment to the
waiver or other authorization and may delay implementing that
section until the amendment or other authorization is granted.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect August 31, 2011.