87R1537 JG-F
By: Thierry H.B. No. 1991
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the maternal mental health peer support pilot program
for perinatal mood and anxiety disorder.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter G to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER G. MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH PEER SUPPORT PILOT PROGRAM
Sec. 32.201. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Peer support service" means a service provided by
a peer support specialist to a person with a mental illness or
substance use condition in accordance with commission rules
regarding peer specialists.
(2) "Perinatal mood and anxiety disorder" includes any
of the following psychiatric illnesses, as defined by the American
Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders (DSM), that occur during pregnancy or within 12
months postpartum:
(A) bipolar disorder, including hypomanic,
manic, depressive, and mixed types;
(B) major depressive disorder, including
single-episode and recurrent types;
(C) generalized anxiety disorder;
(D) obsessive-compulsive disorder;
(E) paranoid or other psychotic disorder; and
(F) post-traumatic stress disorder.
(3) "Pilot program" means the maternal mental health
peer support pilot program established under this subchapter.
Sec. 32.202. ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The
commission shall establish and operate the maternal mental health
peer support pilot program to reduce the risk and manage the effects
of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders in women through the
delivery of peer support services at federally qualified health
centers located in the geographic areas in which the pilot program
operates.
(b) The commission shall establish the pilot program in five
counties in this state that:
(1) either:
(A) are within an area designated as a mental
health professional shortage area; or
(B) have high rates of maternal mortality and
morbidity as determined by the commission in consultation with the
Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee; and
(2) include at least one rural county and one county
with a population of at least 500,000.
Sec. 32.203. OPERATION OF PILOT PROGRAM. (a) In
establishing the pilot program, the commission shall:
(1) develop a strategy for federally qualified health
centers participating in the pilot program and persons responsible
for training to collaborate on the training, certification, and
guidance of peer support specialists in accordance with existing
state procedures and programs;
(2) seek comments regarding best practices for the
design and implementation of the pilot program from relevant
interested persons, including federally qualified health centers,
mental health care providers, local mental health authorities,
certified peer support specialists and affiliated organizations,
women's health care providers, and individuals who have personal
experience with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders;
(3) develop specialized training to:
(A) identify and treat symptoms of perinatal mood
and anxiety disorders; and
(B) provide peer support services to pregnant
women and new mothers;
(4) develop a strategy for federally qualified health
centers and peer support specialists participating in the pilot
program to provide peer support services through any form of
telephonic communication;
(5) develop in collaboration with the federally
qualified health centers participating in the pilot program a
strategy to integrate the delivery of peer support services with
the health care services provided by the centers to women during
pregnancy and within one year of giving birth;
(6) create for the federally qualified health centers
participating in the pilot program a protocol for referring to peer
support services women who are diagnosed as having or identified as
being at risk of developing a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder;
(7) ensure the services provided by peer support
specialists under the pilot program are within the scope of a duty
of care prescribed by commission rule for peer support specialists
who provide similar services; and
(8) develop a method for collecting data, including by
consulting with the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review
Committee and other relevant entities regarding the data, on:
(A) maternal health and mental health outcomes;
and
(B) substance use by women receiving peer support
services through the pilot program.
(b) A peer support specialist who provides peer support
services through the pilot program at a federally qualified health
center shall:
(1) provide peer support services to women who:
(A) based on the results of a postpartum
depression screening or other screening tool, are diagnosed as
having or identified as being at risk of developing a perinatal mood
and anxiety disorder; and
(B) are interested in receiving peer support
services; and
(2) through the use of the specialist's personal
experience with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders:
(A) provide guidance to the women;
(B) if necessary, advocate for the women to
receive mental health care services or other specialized health
care services; and
(C) provide the women with information on mental
health care resources as necessary.
Sec. 32.204. FUNDING. In addition to money appropriated by
the legislature, the commission may accept gifts, grants, and
donations from any source for establishing the pilot program and
compensating peer support specialists under the pilot program.
Sec. 32.205. REPORT. Not later than January 1, 2023, the
commission shall prepare and submit to the governor, lieutenant
governor, and legislature a written report that:
(1) evaluates the success of the pilot program in
reducing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and substance use in
women who received peer support services under the pilot program;
and
(2) recommends whether the pilot program should be
continued, expanded, or terminated.
Sec. 32.206. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires September
1, 2025.
SECTION 2. (a) Not later than December 31, 2021, the
executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission
shall adopt rules as necessary to establish the maternal mental
health peer support pilot program as required by Subchapter G,
Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
(b) Not later than June 30, 2022, the Health and Human
Services Commission shall establish the maternal mental health peer
support pilot program as required by Subchapter G, Chapter 32,
Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.