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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the extension of and expansion of eligibility for the |
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Women's Health Program demonstration project. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 32.0248(a), (b), (g), and (i), Human |
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Resources Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The department shall operate [establish] a [five-year] |
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demonstration project through the medical assistance program to |
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expand access to preventive health and family planning services for |
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women. A woman eligible under Subsection (b) to participate in the |
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demonstration project may receive appropriate preventive health |
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and family planning services, including: |
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(1) medical history recording and evaluation; |
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(2) physical examinations; |
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(3) health screenings, including screening for: |
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(A) diabetes; |
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(B) cervical cancer; |
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(C) breast cancer; |
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(D) sexually transmitted diseases; |
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(E) hypertension; |
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(F) cholesterol; and |
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(G) tuberculosis; |
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(4) counseling and education on contraceptive methods |
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emphasizing the health benefits of abstinence from sexual activity |
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to recipients who are not married, except for counseling and |
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education regarding emergency contraception; |
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(5) provision of contraceptives, except for the |
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provision of emergency contraception; |
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(6) risk assessment; and |
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(7) referral of medical problems to appropriate |
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providers that are entities or organizations that do not perform or |
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promote elective abortions or contract or affiliate with entities |
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that perform or promote elective abortions. |
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(b) A woman is eligible to participate in the demonstration |
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project if the woman [is at least 18 years of age and]: |
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(1) is at least 18 years of age and has a net family |
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income that is at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level; |
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(2) is at least 18 years of age and participates in or |
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receives benefits under any of the following: |
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(A) the medical assistance program; |
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(B) the financial assistance program under |
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Chapter 31; |
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(C) the nutritional assistance program under |
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Chapter 33; |
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(D) the Supplemental Food Program for Women, |
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Infants and Children; or |
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(E) another program administered by the state |
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that: |
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(i) requires documentation of income; and |
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(ii) restricts eligibility to persons with |
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income equal to or less than the income eligibility guidelines |
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applicable to the medical assistance program; |
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(3) is at least 18 years of age and is presumed |
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eligible for one of the programs listed in Subdivision (2) pending |
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completion of that program's eligibility process; [or] |
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(4) is at least 18 years of age and is a member of a |
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family that contains at least one person who participates in or |
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receives benefits under one of the programs listed in Subdivision |
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(2); or |
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(5) is not pregnant but, if she were to become |
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pregnant, would have a net family income on the birth of the child |
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that is at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level. |
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(g) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, |
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the department shall submit a report to the legislature regarding |
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the department's operation of [progress in establishing and
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operating] the demonstration project. |
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(i) This section expires September 1, 2021 [2011]. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a |
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person who receives medical assistance under Chapter 32, Human |
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Resources Code, on or after the effective date of this Act, |
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regardless of the date on which eligibility for the medical |
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assistance was determined. |
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SECTION 3. If before implementing Section 32.0248, Human |
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Resources Code, as amended by this Act, a state agency determines |
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that an amendment to the existing waiver or other authorization is |
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necessary to extend the operation of and expand eligibility for the |
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demonstration project under that section as amended, the agency |
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affected by the provision shall request the amendment to the waiver |
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or other authorization and may delay implementing that section |
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until the amendment or other authorization is granted. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect August 31, 2011. |