88R14039 JG-F
 
  By: Thierry H.B. No. 3724
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the maternal mental health peer support pilot program
  for perinatal mood and anxiety disorder.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter G to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER G. MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH PEER SUPPORT PILOT PROGRAM
         Sec. 32.201.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Peer support service" means a service provided by
  a peer support specialist to a person with a mental illness or
  substance use condition in accordance with commission rules
  regarding peer specialists.
               (2)  "Perinatal mood and anxiety disorder" includes any
  of the following psychiatric illnesses, as defined by the American
  Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
  Mental Disorders (DSM), that occur during pregnancy or within 12
  months postpartum:
                     (A)  bipolar disorder, including hypomanic,
  manic, depressive, and mixed types;
                     (B)  major depressive disorder, including
  single-episode and recurrent types;
                     (C)  generalized anxiety disorder;
                     (D)  obsessive-compulsive disorder;
                     (E)  paranoid or other psychotic disorder; and
                     (F)  post-traumatic stress disorder.
               (3)  "Pilot program" means the maternal mental health
  peer support pilot program established under this subchapter.
         Sec. 32.202.  ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The
  commission shall establish and operate the maternal mental health
  peer support pilot program to reduce the risk and manage the effects
  of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders in women through the
  delivery of peer support services at federally qualified health
  centers located in the geographic areas in which the pilot program
  operates.
         (b)  The commission shall establish the pilot program in five
  counties in this state that:
               (1)  either:
                     (A)  are within an area designated as a mental
  health professional shortage area; or
                     (B)  have high rates of maternal mortality and
  morbidity as determined by the commission in consultation with the
  Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee; and
               (2)  include at least one rural county and one county
  with a population of at least 500,000.
         Sec. 32.203.  OPERATION OF PILOT PROGRAM. (a) In
  establishing the pilot program, the commission shall:
               (1)  develop a strategy for federally qualified health
  centers participating in the pilot program and persons responsible
  for training to collaborate on the training, certification, and
  guidance of peer support specialists in accordance with existing
  state procedures and programs;
               (2)  seek comments regarding best practices for the
  design and implementation of the pilot program from relevant
  interested persons, including federally qualified health centers,
  mental health care providers, local mental health authorities,
  certified peer support specialists and affiliated organizations,
  women's health care providers, and individuals who have personal
  experience with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders;
               (3)  develop specialized training to:
                     (A)  identify and treat symptoms of perinatal mood
  and anxiety disorders; and
                     (B)  provide peer support services to pregnant
  women and new mothers;
               (4)  develop a strategy for federally qualified health
  centers and peer support specialists participating in the pilot
  program to provide peer support services through any form of
  telephonic communication;
               (5)  develop in collaboration with the federally
  qualified health centers participating in the pilot program a
  strategy to integrate the delivery of peer support services with
  the health care services provided by the centers to women during
  pregnancy and within one year of giving birth;
               (6)  create for the federally qualified health centers
  participating in the pilot program a protocol for referring to peer
  support services women who are diagnosed as having or identified as
  being at risk of developing a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder;
               (7)  ensure the services provided by peer support
  specialists under the pilot program are within the scope of a duty
  of care prescribed by commission rule for peer support specialists
  who provide similar services; and
               (8)  develop a method for collecting data, including by
  consulting with the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review
  Committee and other relevant entities regarding the data, on:
                     (A)  maternal health and mental health outcomes;
  and
                     (B)  substance use by women receiving peer support
  services through the pilot program.
         (b)  A peer support specialist who provides peer support
  services through the pilot program at a federally qualified health
  center shall:
               (1)  provide peer support services to women who:
                     (A)  based on the results of a postpartum
  depression screening or other screening tool, are diagnosed as
  having or identified as being at risk of developing a perinatal mood
  and anxiety disorder; and
                     (B)  are interested in receiving peer support
  services; and
               (2)  through the use of the specialist's personal
  experience with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders:
                     (A)  provide guidance to the women;
                     (B)  if necessary, advocate for the women to
  receive mental health care services or other specialized health
  care services; and
                     (C)  provide the women with information on mental
  health care resources as necessary.
         Sec. 32.204.  FUNDING. In addition to money appropriated by
  the legislature, the commission may accept gifts, grants, and
  donations from any source for establishing the pilot program and
  compensating peer support specialists under the pilot program.
         Sec. 32.205.  REPORT. Not later than January 1, 2025, the
  commission shall prepare and submit to the governor, lieutenant
  governor, and legislature a written report that:
               (1)  evaluates the success of the pilot program in
  reducing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and substance use in
  women who received peer support services under the pilot program;
  and
               (2)  recommends whether the pilot program should be
  continued, expanded, or terminated.
         Sec. 32.206.  EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires September
  1, 2027.
         SECTION 2.  (a) Not later than December 31, 2023, the
  executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission
  shall adopt rules as necessary to establish the maternal mental
  health peer support pilot program as required by Subchapter G,
  Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
         (b)  Not later than June 30, 2024, the Health and Human
  Services Commission shall establish the maternal mental health peer
  support pilot program as required by Subchapter G, Chapter 32,
  Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.