| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the operation of the women's health program |
|
|
demonstration project. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Sections 32.0248(a), (g), (h), and (i), Human |
|
|
Resources Code, are amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) The department shall operate [establish] a [five-year] |
|
|
demonstration project through the medical assistance program to |
|
|
expand access to preventive health and family planning services for |
|
|
women. A woman eligible under Subsection (b) to participate in the |
|
|
demonstration project may receive appropriate preventive health |
|
|
and family planning services, including: |
|
|
(1) medical history recording and evaluation; |
|
|
(2) physical examinations; |
|
|
(3) health screenings, including screening for: |
|
|
(A) diabetes; |
|
|
(B) cervical cancer; |
|
|
(C) breast cancer; |
|
|
(D) sexually transmitted diseases; |
|
|
(E) hypertension; |
|
|
(F) cholesterol; and |
|
|
(G) tuberculosis; |
|
|
(4) counseling and education on contraceptive methods |
|
|
emphasizing the health benefits of abstinence from sexual activity |
|
|
to recipients who are not married, except for counseling and |
|
|
education regarding emergency contraception; |
|
|
(5) provision of contraceptives, except for the |
|
|
provision of emergency contraception; |
|
|
(6) risk assessment; and |
|
|
(7) referral of medical problems to appropriate |
|
|
providers [that are entities or organizations that do not perform
|
|
|
or promote elective abortions or contract or affiliate with
|
|
|
entities that perform or promote elective abortions]. |
|
|
(g) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, |
|
|
the department shall submit a report to the legislature regarding |
|
|
the department's progress in [establishing and] operating the |
|
|
demonstration project. |
|
|
(h) The department shall ensure the money spent under the |
|
|
demonstration project, regardless of the funding source, is not |
|
|
used to perform or promote elective abortions. [The department, for
|
|
|
the purpose of the demonstration project, may not contract with
|
|
|
entities that perform or promote elective abortions or are
|
|
|
affiliates of entities that perform or promote elective abortions.] |
|
|
(i) This section expires September 1, 2016 [2011]. |
|
|
SECTION 2. If before implementing Section 32.0248, Human |
|
|
Resources Code, as amended by this Act, a state agency determines |
|
|
that an amendment to the existing waiver or other authorization is |
|
|
necessary to extend the operation of the demonstration project for |
|
|
women's health care services under that section as amended, the |
|
|
agency affected by the provision shall request the amendment to the |
|
|
waiver or other authorization and may delay implementing that |
|
|
section until the amendment or other authorization is granted. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect August 31, 2011. |