86R7922 EAS-F
By: Price H.B. No. 1292
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to statewide initiatives to improve maternal and newborn
health for women with opioid use disorder.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 34, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
adding Section 34.0158 to read as follows:
Sec. 34.0158. OPIOID USE DISORDER MATERNAL AND NEWBORN
HEALTH INITIATIVES. (a) The department, in collaboration with the
task force, shall develop and implement initiatives to:
(1) improve screening procedures to better identify
and care for women with opioid use disorder;
(2) improve continuity of care for women with opioid
use disorder by ensuring that health care providers refer the women
to appropriate treatment and verify the women receive the
treatment;
(3) optimize health care provided to pregnant women
with opioid use disorder;
(4) optimize health care provided to newborns with
neonatal abstinence syndrome by encouraging maternal engagement;
(5) increase access to medication-assisted treatment
for women with opioid use disorder during pregnancy and the
postpartum period; and
(6) prevent opioid use disorder by reducing the number
of opioid drugs prescribed before, during, and following a
delivery.
(b) Before implementing the initiatives described by
Subsection (a), the department may conduct a limited pilot program
in one or more geographic areas of this state to implement the
initiatives at hospitals licensed under Chapter 241 with expertise
in caring for newborns with neonatal abstinence syndrome or related
conditions. The pilot program must conclude not later than March 1,
2020. This subsection expires September 1, 2021.
(c) Using existing resources, the department, in
collaboration with the task force, shall promote and facilitate the
use among health care providers in this state of maternal health
informational materials, including tools and procedures related to
best practices in maternal health to improve obstetrical care for
women with opioid use disorder.
SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2020, the Department
of State Health Services shall prepare and submit to the presiding
officers of the standing committees of each house of the
legislature with primary jurisdiction over public health a written
report that evaluates the success of the initiatives developed and
implemented under Section 34.0158, Health and Safety Code, as added
by this Act, and, if applicable, the pilot program conducted under
that section. The report submitted under this section may be
submitted with the report required under Section 34.0156, Health
and Safety Code.
SECTION 3. 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 September 1, 2019.