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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to statewide initiatives to improve maternal and newborn |
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health for women with opioid use disorder. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 34, Health and Safety Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 34.0158 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 34.0158. OPIOID USE DISORDER MATERNAL AND NEWBORN |
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HEALTH INITIATIVES. (a) The department, in collaboration with the |
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task force, shall develop and implement initiatives to: |
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(1) improve screening procedures to better identify |
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and care for women with opioid use disorder; |
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(2) improve continuity of care for women with opioid |
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use disorder by ensuring that health care providers refer the women |
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to appropriate treatment and verify the women receive the |
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treatment; |
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(3) optimize health care provided to pregnant women |
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with opioid use disorder; |
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(4) optimize health care provided to newborns with |
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neonatal abstinence syndrome by encouraging maternal engagement; |
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(5) increase access to medication-assisted treatment |
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for women with opioid use disorder during pregnancy and the |
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postpartum period; and |
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(6) prevent opioid use disorder by reducing the number |
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of opioid drugs prescribed before, during, and following a |
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delivery. |
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(b) Before implementing the initiatives described by |
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Subsection (a), the department may conduct a limited pilot program |
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in one or more geographic areas of this state to implement the |
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initiatives at hospitals licensed under Chapter 241 with expertise |
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in caring for newborns with neonatal abstinence syndrome or related |
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conditions. The pilot program must conclude not later than March 1, |
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2020. This subsection expires September 1, 2021. |
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(c) Using existing resources, the department, in |
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collaboration with the task force, shall promote and facilitate the |
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use among health care providers in this state of maternal health |
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informational materials, including tools and procedures related to |
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best practices in maternal health to improve obstetrical care for |
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women with opioid use disorder. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2020, the Department |
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of State Health Services shall prepare and submit to the presiding |
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officers of the standing committees of each house of the |
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legislature with primary jurisdiction over public health a written |
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report that evaluates the success of the initiatives developed and |
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implemented under Section 34.0158, Health and Safety Code, as added |
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by this Act, and, if applicable, the pilot program conducted under |
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that section. The report submitted under this section may be |
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submitted with the report required under Section 34.0156, Health |
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and Safety Code. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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