85S10907 DMS-D
By: Davis of Harris H.B. No. 329
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to maternal health care.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 32, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 32.022 to read as follows:
Sec. 32.022. WOMEN'S HEALTH CAMPAIGN. The commission, in
collaboration with the department and other interested parties,
shall create a campaign to educate women about the importance of
prenatal care.
SECTION 2. Section 34.005, Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 34.005. DUTIES OF TASK FORCE. The task force shall:
(1) study and review:
(A) cases of pregnancy-related deaths; [and]
(B) trends, rates, or disparities in
pregnancy-related deaths, postpartum depression, behavioral health
diagnoses, and [in] severe maternal morbidity;
(C) health conditions and factors that
disproportionately affect the most at-risk population as
determined in the task force's biennial report required under
Section 34.015; and
(D) best practices and programs operating in
other states that have reduced rates of pregnancy-related deaths;
(2) determine the feasibility of the task force
studying cases of severe maternal morbidity; and
(3) make recommendations to help reduce the incidence
of pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity in this
state.
SECTION 3. Chapter 34, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
adding Sections 34.0155, 34.0156, and 34.0157 to read as follows:
Sec. 34.0155. REPORT ON PREGNANCY-RELATED DEATHS AND
POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION. The commission shall:
(1) evaluate options for reducing pregnancy-related
deaths, focusing on the most prevalent causes of pregnancy-related
deaths as identified in the task force's biennial report required
under Section 34.015, and for treating postpartum depression in
economically disadvantaged women; and
(2) submit a written report summarizing the
commission's, department's, and task force's efforts to accomplish
the tasks described by Subdivision (1) to the governor, the
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
the Legislative Budget Board, and the appropriate standing
committees of the legislature not later than December 1 of each
even-numbered year.
Sec. 34.0156. REPORT ON ACTIONS TO ADDRESS MATERNAL
MORTALITY RATES. Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered
year, the commission shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant
governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the
Legislative Budget Board, and the appropriate standing committees
of the legislature a written report summarizing the actions taken
to address maternal morbidity and reduce maternal mortality rates.
The report must include information from programs and initiatives
created to address maternal morbidity and reduce maternal mortality
rates in this state, including:
(1) Medicaid as defined by Section 531.001, Government
Code;
(2) the children's health insurance program, including
the perinatal program;
(3) the Healthy Texas Women program;
(4) the Family Planning Program;
(5) this state's program under the Maternal and Child
Health Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. Section 701 et seq.);
(6) the Perinatal Advisory Council;
(7) state health plans; and
(8) the Healthy Texas Babies program.
Sec. 34.0157. PROGRAM EVALUATIONS; RESOURCE GUIDE; PILOT
PROGRAM. (a) The task force, under the direction of the
commission, shall:
(1) explore options for expanding the pilot program
for pregnancy medical homes under Section 531.0996, Government
Code;
(2) explore the possibility of increasing the benefits
provided under state-administered health programs, including
specialty care and prescriptions, for women who are at greater risk
of having a high-risk pregnancy or premature delivery;
(3) evaluate supplemental payments to obstetrics
providers for pregnancy risk assessments and evaluate the
submission of a waiver to fund managed care organization payments
for case management and care coordination services for women at
high risk of severe maternal morbidity on conclusion of their
eligibility for Medicaid as defined by Section 531.001, Government
Code;
(4) evaluate the length of time to complete the
Medicaid enrollment process for pregnant women;
(5) evaluate the use for Medicaid of Medicare codes
for care coordination; and
(6) study the impact of the programs funded from the
Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program federal grant and whether the
state should continue funding the programs.
(b) The commission shall:
(1) create and maintain an online resource guide of
mental and behavioral health providers to assist women who have
limited or no health benefit plan coverage or mental health benefit
plan coverage in finding affordable providers; and
(2) create a pilot program for managed care
organizations to use community health workers to address the needs
of women who have a high-risk condition, including:
(A) substance use disorder;
(B) cardiovascular disease; and
(C) hypertension.
SECTION 4. Chapter 34, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
adding Section 34.019 to read as follows:
Sec. 34.019. DATA COLLECTION. The task force, under the
direction of the commission, shall collect information relating to
maternity care and postpartum depression in this state, including
the:
(1) total number of births to Medicaid recipients;
(2) number of women who are screened for postpartum
depression as a Medicaid recipient;
(3) total number of births to women with health
benefit plan coverage;
(4) number of women with health benefit plan coverage
who are screened for postpartum depression;
(5) number of women with health benefit plan coverage
who are treated for postpartum depression;
(6) number of women screened for postpartum depression
under the Healthy Texas Women program;
(7) number of women treated for postpartum depression
under the Healthy Texas Women program;
(8) number of claims for postpartum depression
treatment paid by the Healthy Texas Women program;
(9) number of claims for postpartum depression
treatment rejected by the Healthy Texas Women program;
(10) postpartum depression screening and treatment
billing codes and the number of claims for each billing code under
the Healthy Texas Women program;
(11) number of days between the date of a postpartum
depression screening and the date the patient begins treatment
under Medicaid;
(12) number of days between the date of a postpartum
depression screening and the date the patient begins treatment
under the Healthy Texas Women program;
(13) number of women who screen positive for
postpartum depression under Medicaid and the length of time
following childbirth for the screening to occur;
(14) number of women with health benefit plan coverage
who screen positive for postpartum depression and the length of
time following childbirth for the screening to occur; and
(15) number of women who screen positive for
postpartum depression under the Healthy Texas Women program and the
length of time following childbirth for the screening to occur.
SECTION 5. Section 34.018, Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 34.018. SUNSET PROVISION. The task force is subject to
Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued
in existence as provided by that chapter, the task force is
abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2023 [2019].
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the
legislative session.