87R1929 JG-D
By: Walle H.B. No. 415
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to doula services, including Medicaid coverage of doula
services.
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 32.0212 to read as follows:
Sec. 32.0212. DOULA SERVICES AND OPTIONAL DOULA
CERTIFICATION. (a) In this section, "doula services" means
childbirth education and support services, including emotional and
physical support provided during pregnancy, labor, birth, and the
postpartum period or provided intermittently during pregnancy and
the postpartum period.
(a-1) The department, in consultation with the Texas
Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee and other
relevant entities, shall study methods for using doula services to
improve birth outcomes of women who face a disproportionately
greater risk of poor birth outcomes, including the feasibility of
providing Medicaid coverage for doula services. The department and
the review committee shall include the findings of the study and
legislative recommendations in the joint biennial report submitted
as required under Section 34.015 not later than September 1, 2022.
This subsection expires September 1, 2025.
(b) The department and the commission shall post on their
respective Internet websites informational resources regarding
doula services, including a description of doula services and the
benefits of using doula services.
(c) The department, in consultation with other relevant
entities, shall develop a statewide, uniform curriculum for an
optional doula certification.
SECTION 2. Section 32.024, Human Resources Code, is amended
by adding Subsections (nn) and (nn-1) to read as follows:
(nn) The commission may provide medical assistance
reimbursement for doula services, as defined by Section 32.0212,
Health and Safety Code. If the commission provides medical
assistance reimbursement for doula services, the executive
commissioner by rule shall determine the doula services to be
covered and any doula certification requirements.
(nn-1) The commission shall determine whether to provide
medical assistance reimbursement for doula services under
Subsection (nn) based on the findings and recommendations provided
in the report required by Section 32.0212(a-1), Health and Safety
Code. This subsection expires September 1, 2025.
SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act
a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
waiver or authorization is granted.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.