BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2873
88R6193 KKR-F	By: Howard (Blanco)
	Health & Human Services
	5/15/2023
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Current reporting requirements for the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) have overextended staff trying to cover the number of individual reports, making it difficult to dedicate the necessary time to produce meaningful information. This is particularly true of the number of reports related to maternal health. Better birth outcomes are a priority for the state and deserve significant and consistent time and attention. This is both a costly and inefficient way to gather important data. A consolidated strategic plan would allow HHSC to unite behind a single plan with set priorities, goals, and deliverables rather than trying to address requirements in multiple reports with limited resources. This would give HHSC staff more time to invest in providing consistent updates and allow HHSC to better demonstrate progress on their priorities to the legislature.

H.B. 2873 seeks to consolidate recurring HHSC maternal health reports required by the legislature into one biennial strategic plan.

H.B. 2873 amends current law relating to a strategic plan for improving maternal health, including the consolidation and repeal of certain planning and reporting requirements.

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 531, Government Code, by adding Section 531.0223, as follows:

Sec. 531.0223. MATERNAL HEALTH STRATEGIC PLAN.� (a) Requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to develop and implement a strategic plan for improving maternal health outcomes under programs administered by this state that provide services to women during and following a pregnancy. Requires that the strategic plan include strategies for:

(1)  improving access to screening, referral, treatment, and support services for perinatal depression, hyperemesis gravidarum, and other major pregnancy-related health complications;

(2)  improving the quality of maternal health care provided under Medicaid, the child health plan perinatal program, other health care programs administered by this state, and state health plans; and

(3)  reducing pregnancy-related deaths, focusing on the most prevalent causes of those deaths.

(b) Requires HHSC, in developing the strategic plan, to consult with the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), the statewide health coordinating council, and other maternal health experts as HHSC determines necessary.

(c) Requires HHSC, not later than December 31 of each even-numbered year, to provide the strategic plan developed under this section to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, the House Public Health Committee, and the House Human Services Committee.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 34.0155, Health and Safety Code, as follows:

Sec. 34.0155. New heading: OPTIONS AND STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING PREGNANCY-RELATED DEATHS, SEVERE MATERNAL MORBIDITY, AND POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION. Deletes existing text requiring HHSC, not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representative, the Legislative Budget Board, and the appropriate standing committees of the legislature a written report that includes a summary of HHSC's and DSHS's efforts to accomplish the tasks described by certain subdivisions and a summary of the report required by Section 34.0156 (Maternal Health and Safety Initiative). Makes nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 3. Repealers: Sections 32.046 (Postpartum Depression Strategic Plan) and 32.047 (Hyperemesis Gravidarum Strategic Plan), Health and Safety Code.

Repealers: Sections 32.155(d) (relating to requiring HHSC to submit to the legislature and make available to the public an annual report summarizing HHSC's progress in developing or enhancing initiatives to improve maternal health and the progress of managed care organizations in incorporating certain required initiative into the organization's managed care plans) and (e) (relating to authorizing HHSC to submit the required report under Subsection (d) with the annual report on the progress by HHSC on improving quality-based outcomes and payment systems), Health and Safety Code.

Repealers: Sections 34.0158 (Report on Actions to Address Maternal Mortality Rates) and 34.020(f) (related to requiring HHSC to submit to the legislature by a certain date a report on the success of HHSC's program delivering prenatal and postpartum care through telehealth or telemedicine services in certain counties), Health and Safety Code.

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2023.