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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a pilot program to provide Medicaid coverage for doula |
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services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 531.0997 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.0997. MEDICAID PILOT PROGRAM FOR DOULA SERVICES. |
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(a) In this section: |
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(1) "Doula" means a nonmedical birthing coach who |
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provides doula services. |
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(2) "Doula services" means childbirth education and |
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support services, including emotional and physical support |
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provided during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and the postpartum |
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period, or provided intermittently during pregnancy and the |
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postpartum period. |
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(b) To reduce maternal mortality rates and racial |
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disparities in health outcomes, the commission shall establish a |
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pilot program to provide doula services to Medicaid recipients, |
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regardless of whether those recipients receive services through a |
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Medicaid managed care or fee-for-service delivery model. |
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(c) The commission shall implement the pilot program in the |
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following phases and geographic areas of this state: |
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(1) beginning not later than September 1, 2022, the |
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commission shall implement the pilot program in the most populous |
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county in this state; and |
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(2) beginning not later than September 1, 2023, the |
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commission shall implement the pilot program in the county with the |
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greatest maternal health support needs, as determined by the |
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county's maternal and infant mortality rates and the number of |
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births in the county by Medicaid recipients during a period in which |
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provider capacity for the county has been reached. |
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(d) The commission shall prescribe eligibility requirements |
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for participation in the pilot program. |
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(e) The commission shall ensure that Medicaid |
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reimbursement is provided to a doula who provides doula services to |
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an eligible participant under the pilot program for the following: |
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(1) up to four prenatal visits; |
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(2) the provision of support services during labor and |
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delivery; and |
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(3) up to four postpartum visits. |
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(f) Not later than September 1, 2028, the commission shall |
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prepare and submit to the legislature a written report that: |
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(1) summarizes the results of the pilot program, |
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including the effectiveness of the pilot program in reducing |
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maternal mortality rates and racial disparities in health outcomes |
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in the geographic areas of this state in which the pilot program |
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operates; |
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(2) includes feedback from participating doulas and |
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recipients who received doula services under the pilot program; and |
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(3) includes a recommendation on whether the pilot |
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program should be continued, expanded, or terminated. |
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(g) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules to |
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implement this section, including rules outlining the |
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qualifications necessary for an individual to participate in the |
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pilot program as a doula and the scope of doula services to be |
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provided under the pilot program. |
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(h) The pilot program terminates and this section expires |
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September 1, 2030. |
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SECTION 2. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
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a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
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federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
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the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
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authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
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waiver or authorization is granted. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |