85S10907 DMS-D

By: Davis of Harris H.B. No. 329

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to maternal health care.

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 32.022 to read as follows:

Sec. 32.022. WOMEN'S HEALTH CAMPAIGN. The commission, in collaboration with the department and other interested parties, shall create a campaign to educate women about the importance of prenatal care.

SECTION 2. Section 34.005, Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 34.005. DUTIES OF TASK FORCE. The task force shall:

(1) study and review:

(A) cases of pregnancy-related deaths; [and]

(B) trends, rates, or disparities in pregnancy-related deaths, postpartum depression, behavioral health diagnoses, and [in] severe maternal morbidity;

(C) health conditions and factors that disproportionately affect the most at-risk population as determined in the task force's biennial report required under Section 34.015; and

(D) best practices and programs operating in other states that have reduced rates of pregnancy-related deaths;

(2) determine the feasibility of the task force studying cases of severe maternal morbidity; and

(3) make recommendations to help reduce the incidence of pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity in this state.

SECTION 3. Chapter 34, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Sections 34.0155, 34.0156, and 34.0157 to read as follows:

Sec. 34.0155. REPORT ON PREGNANCY-RELATED DEATHS AND POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION. The commission shall:

(1) evaluate options for reducing pregnancy-related deaths, focusing on the most prevalent causes of pregnancy-related deaths as identified in the task force's biennial report required under Section 34.015, and for treating postpartum depression in economically disadvantaged women; and

(2) submit a written report summarizing the commission's, department's, and task force's efforts to accomplish the tasks described by Subdivision (1) to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the Legislative Budget Board, and the appropriate standing committees of the legislature not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year.

Sec. 34.0156. REPORT ON ACTIONS TO ADDRESS MATERNAL MORTALITY RATES. Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, the commission shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the Legislative Budget Board, and the appropriate standing committees of the legislature a written report summarizing the actions taken to address maternal morbidity and reduce maternal mortality rates. The report must include information from programs and initiatives created to address maternal morbidity and reduce maternal mortality rates in this state, including:

(1) Medicaid as defined by Section 531.001, Government Code;

(2) the children's health insurance program, including the perinatal program;

(3) the Healthy Texas Women program;

(4) the Family Planning Program;

(5) this state's program under the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. Section 701 et seq.);

(6) the Perinatal Advisory Council;

(7) state health plans; and

(8) the Healthy Texas Babies program.

Sec. 34.0157. PROGRAM EVALUATIONS; RESOURCE GUIDE; PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The task force, under the direction of the commission, shall:

(1) explore options for expanding the pilot program for pregnancy medical homes under Section 531.0996, Government Code;

(2) explore the possibility of increasing the benefits provided under state-administered health programs, including specialty care and prescriptions, for women who are at greater risk of having a high-risk pregnancy or premature delivery;

(3) evaluate supplemental payments to obstetrics providers for pregnancy risk assessments and evaluate the submission of a waiver to fund managed care organization payments for case management and care coordination services for women at high risk of severe maternal morbidity on conclusion of their eligibility for Medicaid as defined by Section 531.001, Government Code;

(4) evaluate the length of time to complete the Medicaid enrollment process for pregnant women;

(5) evaluate the use for Medicaid of Medicare codes for care coordination; and

(6) study the impact of the programs funded from the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program federal grant and whether the state should continue funding the programs.

(b) The commission shall:

(1) create and maintain an online resource guide of mental and behavioral health providers to assist women who have limited or no health benefit plan coverage or mental health benefit plan coverage in finding affordable providers; and

(2) create a pilot program for managed care organizations to use community health workers to address the needs of women who have a high-risk condition, including:

(A) substance use disorder;

(B) cardiovascular disease; and

(C) hypertension.

SECTION 4. Chapter 34, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 34.019 to read as follows:

Sec. 34.019. DATA COLLECTION. The task force, under the direction of the commission, shall collect information relating to maternity care and postpartum depression in this state, including the:

(1) total number of births to Medicaid recipients;

(2) number of women who are screened for postpartum depression as a Medicaid recipient;

(3) total number of births to women with health benefit plan coverage;

(4) number of women with health benefit plan coverage who are screened for postpartum depression;

(5) number of women with health benefit plan coverage who are treated for postpartum depression;

(6) number of women screened for postpartum depression under the Healthy Texas Women program;

(7) number of women treated for postpartum depression under the Healthy Texas Women program;

(8) number of claims for postpartum depression treatment paid by the Healthy Texas Women program;

(9) number of claims for postpartum depression treatment rejected by the Healthy Texas Women program;

(10) postpartum depression screening and treatment billing codes and the number of claims for each billing code under the Healthy Texas Women program;

(11) number of days between the date of a postpartum depression screening and the date the patient begins treatment under Medicaid;

(12) number of days between the date of a postpartum depression screening and the date the patient begins treatment under the Healthy Texas Women program;

(13) number of women who screen positive for postpartum depression under Medicaid and the length of time following childbirth for the screening to occur;

(14) number of women with health benefit plan coverage who screen positive for postpartum depression and the length of time following childbirth for the screening to occur; and

(15) number of women who screen positive for postpartum depression under the Healthy Texas Women program and the length of time following childbirth for the screening to occur.

SECTION 5. Section 34.018, Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 34.018. SUNSET PROVISION. The task force is subject to Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the task force is abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2023 [2019].

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the legislative session.