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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to doula services, including Medicaid coverage of doula |
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services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 32, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 32.0212 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 32.0212. DOULA SERVICES AND OPTIONAL DOULA |
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CERTIFICATION. (a) In this section, "doula services" means |
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childbirth education and support services, including emotional and |
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physical support provided during pregnancy, labor, birth, and the |
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postpartum period or provided intermittently during pregnancy and |
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the postpartum period. |
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(a-1) The department, in consultation with the Texas |
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Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee and other |
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relevant entities, shall study methods for using doula services to |
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improve birth outcomes of women who face a disproportionately |
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greater risk of poor birth outcomes, including the feasibility of |
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providing Medicaid coverage for doula services. The department and |
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the review committee shall include the findings of the study and |
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legislative recommendations in the joint biennial report submitted |
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as required under Section 34.015 not later than September 1, 2022. |
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This subsection expires September 1, 2025. |
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(b) The department and the commission shall post on their |
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respective Internet websites informational resources regarding |
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doula services, including a description of doula services and the |
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benefits of using doula services. |
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(c) The department, in consultation with other relevant |
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entities, shall develop a statewide, uniform curriculum for an |
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optional doula certification. |
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SECTION 2. Section 32.024, Human Resources Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsections (nn) and (nn-1) to read as follows: |
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(nn) The commission may provide medical assistance |
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reimbursement for doula services, as defined by Section 32.0212, |
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Health and Safety Code. If the commission provides medical |
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assistance reimbursement for doula services, the executive |
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commissioner by rule shall determine the doula services to be |
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covered and any doula certification requirements. |
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(nn-1) The commission shall determine whether to provide |
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medical assistance reimbursement for doula services under |
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Subsection (nn) based on the findings and recommendations provided |
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in the report required by Section 32.0212(a-1), Health and Safety |
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Code. This subsection expires September 1, 2025. |
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SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
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a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
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federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
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the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
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authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
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waiver or authorization is granted. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |