| 1 | 1 | | 89R9520 SCF-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Simmons H.B. No. 2477 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to coverage for doula services under certain group benefit |
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| 10 | 10 | | plans for governmental employees and retirees. |
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| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 1551, Insurance Code, is |
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| 13 | 13 | | amended by adding Section 1551.232 to read as follows: |
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| 14 | 14 | | Sec. 1551.232. COVERAGE FOR DOULA SERVICES. (a) In this |
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| 15 | 15 | | section, "doula services" means nonmedical childbirth education, |
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| 16 | 16 | | coaching, and support services, including emotional and physical |
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| 17 | 17 | | support provided during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and the |
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| 18 | 18 | | postpartum period, or provided intermittently during pregnancy and |
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| 19 | 19 | | the postpartum period. |
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| 20 | 20 | | (b) A health benefit plan provided under the group benefits |
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| 21 | 21 | | program must provide coverage for doula services. |
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| 22 | 22 | | SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 1575, Insurance Code, is |
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| 23 | 23 | | amended by adding Section 1575.175 to read as follows: |
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| 24 | 24 | | Sec. 1575.175. COVERAGE FOR DOULA SERVICES. (a) In this |
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| 25 | 25 | | section, "doula services" means nonmedical childbirth education, |
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| 26 | 26 | | coaching, and support services, including emotional and physical |
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| 27 | 27 | | support provided during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and the |
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| 28 | 28 | | postpartum period, or provided intermittently during pregnancy and |
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| 29 | 29 | | the postpartum period. |
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| 30 | 30 | | (b) A basic plan provided under the group program must |
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| 31 | 31 | | provide coverage for doula services. |
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| 32 | 32 | | SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 1579, Insurance Code, is |
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| 33 | 33 | | amended by adding Section 1579.113 to read as follows: |
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| 34 | 34 | | Sec. 1579.113. COVERAGE FOR DOULA SERVICES. (a) In this |
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| 35 | 35 | | section, "doula services" means nonmedical childbirth education, |
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| 36 | 36 | | coaching, and support services, including emotional and physical |
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| 37 | 37 | | support provided during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and the |
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| 38 | 38 | | postpartum period, or provided intermittently during pregnancy and |
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| 39 | 39 | | the postpartum period. |
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| 40 | 40 | | (b) A health coverage plan provided under this chapter must |
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| 41 | 41 | | provide coverage for doula services. |
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| 42 | 42 | | SECTION 4. Subchapter C, Chapter 1601, Insurance Code, is |
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| 43 | 43 | | amended by adding Section 1601.112 to read as follows: |
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| 44 | 44 | | Sec. 1601.112. COVERAGE FOR DOULA SERVICES. (a) In this |
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| 45 | 45 | | section, "doula services" means nonmedical childbirth education, |
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| 46 | 46 | | coaching, and support services, including emotional and physical |
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| 47 | 47 | | support provided during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and the |
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| 48 | 48 | | postpartum period, or provided intermittently during pregnancy and |
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| 49 | 49 | | the postpartum period. |
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| 50 | 50 | | (b) A health benefit plan provided under this chapter must |
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| 51 | 51 | | provide coverage for doula services. |
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| 52 | 52 | | SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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| 53 | 53 | | a plan year that commences on or after January 1, 2026. |
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| 54 | 54 | | SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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