BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1589

By: Ortega

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that low participation in the Healthy Texas Women program may be due in part to the inadequate notice provided to women who will become eligible for the program after their post‑pregnancy Medicaid coverage ends. H.B. 1589 seeks to help ensure that these women are better informed of their enrollment in the program and the services that the program has to offer.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1589 amends the Government Code to require the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), not later than January 1, 2020, to adopt rules requiring HHSC to provide to a woman who is a Medicaid recipient during her pregnancy written notice that the woman has continuous Medicaid coverage through the second month after the pregnancy ends; that the woman's eligibility for enrollment in the Healthy Texas Women program, if appropriate, will be determined approximately 30 days after the date her pregnancy ends; and that, if the woman is determined eligible for the program, she will be automatically enrolled in the program and her coverage under the program begins on the first day following the date her Medicaid coverage ends. The bill adds a temporary provision set to expire January 1, 2020, requiring the executive commissioner to consult with the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force to determine when and the manner by which the notice should be provided to women and requires HHSC, if feasible, to provide the notice to a woman before the third trimester of her pregnancy.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.