BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2028

By: Johnson, Julie

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that in recent years the Health and Human Services Commission has begun auto-enrolling certain mothers into the Healthy Texas Women program, which offers women's health and family planning services at no cost to eligible women. Those who are auto-enrolled are notified by mail, and concerns have been raised that the notice provides too little information about the program and how it can be utilized. H.B. 2028 seeks to ensure that certain women who are auto-enrolled in the program are provided necessary information about the program and program providers.

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 2 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2028 amends the Government Code to require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to provide to a woman who is automatically enrolled in the Healthy Texas Women program on or after January 1, 2020, following a pregnancy for which the woman received Medicaid benefits, but who is no longer eligible to participate in Medicaid, information about the program and a list of health care providers, including clinics and other entities, that participate in the program and are located in the same geographical area in which the woman resides. Such information must be provided at the time the woman is enrolled in the program. The bill requires the executive commissioner of HHSC to adopt any rules necessary to implement the bill's provisions.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.