| 2 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 3 | 5 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 6 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 5 | 7 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 6 | 8 | | relating to Medicaid coverage and reimbursement of doula services. |
|---|
| 7 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 8 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, |
|---|
| 9 | 11 | | is amended by adding Section 32.02481 to read as follows: |
|---|
| 10 | 12 | | Sec. 32.02481. MEDICAL ASSISTANCE REIMBURSEMENT FOR DOULA |
|---|
| 11 | 13 | | SERVICES. (a) In this section: |
|---|
| 12 | 14 | | (1) "Doula" means a nonmedical birthing professional |
|---|
| 13 | 15 | | who provides doula services. |
|---|
| 14 | 16 | | (2) "Doula services" means nonmedical childbirth |
|---|
| 15 | 17 | | education, coaching, and support services, including emotional and |
|---|
| 16 | 18 | | physical support provided during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and |
|---|
| 17 | 19 | | the postpartum period, or provided intermittently during pregnancy |
|---|
| 18 | 20 | | and the postpartum period. |
|---|
| 19 | 21 | | (b) In addition to reimbursement a doula may receive under |
|---|
| 20 | 22 | | Section 32.024(qq) for case management services, the commission |
|---|
| 21 | 23 | | shall ensure that medical assistance reimbursement is provided for |
|---|
| 22 | 24 | | doula services provided by a doula to a medical assistance |
|---|
| 23 | 25 | | recipient. |
|---|
| 24 | 26 | | SECTION 2. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective |
|---|
| 25 | 27 | | date of this Act but not later than October 1, 2026, the executive |
|---|
| 26 | 28 | | commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall seek |
|---|
| 27 | 29 | | from the appropriate federal agency an amendment to the state |
|---|
| 28 | 30 | | Medicaid plan to implement Section 32.02481, Human Resources Code, |
|---|
| 29 | 31 | | as added by this Act. |
|---|
| 30 | 32 | | (b) In developing the amendment to the state Medicaid plan |
|---|
| 31 | 33 | | described by Subsection (a) of this section, the executive |
|---|
| 32 | 34 | | commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall |
|---|
| 33 | 35 | | consult with individuals who represent interested stakeholders, |
|---|
| 34 | 36 | | including medical assistance recipients, doulas, physicians, |
|---|
| 35 | 37 | | nurses, and health care facilities in the state. |
|---|
| 36 | 38 | | (c) Notwithstanding Subsection (a) of this section, if |
|---|
| 37 | 39 | | before implementing any provision of this Act the Health and Human |
|---|
| 38 | 40 | | Services Commission or other state agency determines that a waiver |
|---|
| 39 | 41 | | from a federal agency is necessary for implementation of that |
|---|
| 40 | 42 | | provision, the agency shall request the waiver and may delay |
|---|
| 41 | 43 | | implementing that provision until the waiver is granted. |
|---|
| 42 | 44 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
|---|