BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	H.B. 253
	By: Farrar et al. (Kolkhorst)
	Health & Human Services
	4/25/2019
	Engrossed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Concerns have been raised regarding women's access to screening, referral, treatment, and support services for postpartum depression. H.B. 253 seeks to address these concerns by providing for the development and implementation of a five-year strategic plan to improve access to such services.

 

H.B. 253 amends current law relating to a strategic plan to address postpartum depression.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section 32.046, as follows:

 

Sec. 32.046.� POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION STRATEGIC PLAN. (a) Requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to develop and implement a five‑year strategic plan to improve access to postpartum depression screening, referral, treatment, and support services. Requires HHSC, not later than September 1 of the last fiscal year in each five-year period, to develop a new strategic plan for the next five fiscal years beginning with the following fiscal year.

 

(b) Requires the strategic plan to provide strategies to:

 

(1)� increase awareness among state-administered program providers who may serve women who are at risk of or are experiencing postpartum depression about the prevalence and effects of postpartum depression on outcomes for women and children;

 

(2)� establish a referral network of community-based mental health providers and support services addressing postpartum depression;

 

(3)� increase women's access to formal and informal peer support services, including access to certified peer specialists who have received additional training related to postpartum depression;

 

(4)� raise public awareness of and reduce the stigma related to postpartum depression; and

 

(5)� leverage sources of funding to support existing community-based postpartum depression screening, referral, treatment, and support services.

 

(c) Requires HHSC to coordinate with the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), the statewide health coordinating council, the office of mental health coordination, and the statewide behavioral health coordinating council in developing the strategic plan.

 

(d) Requires HHSC, in consultation with DSHS, the statewide health coordinating council, the office of mental health coordination, and the statewide behavioral health coordinating council, to annually review and update, as necessary, the strategic plan.

 

(e) Defines "postpartum depression" for purposes of this section.

 

SECTION 2. Requires HHSC, not later than September 1, 2020, to develop the initial strategic plan required by Section 32.046, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.

 

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.