85S10907 DMS-D
	By: Davis of Harris	H.B. No. 329

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to maternal health care.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 32, Health and Safety
	Code, is amended by adding Section 32.022 to read as follows:
	Sec. 32.022.  WOMEN'S HEALTH CAMPAIGN. The commission, in
	collaboration with the department and other interested parties,
	shall create a campaign to educate women about the importance of
	prenatal care.
	SECTION 2.  Section 34.005, Health and Safety Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 34.005.  DUTIES OF TASK FORCE. The task force shall:
	(1)  study and review:
	(A)  cases of pregnancy-related deaths; [and]
	(B)  trends, rates, or disparities in
	pregnancy-related deaths, postpartum depression, behavioral health
	diagnoses, and [in] severe maternal morbidity;
	(C)  health conditions and factors that
	disproportionately affect the most at-risk population as
	determined in the task force's biennial report required under
	Section 34.015; and
	(D)  best practices and programs operating in
	other states that have reduced rates of pregnancy-related deaths;
	(2)  determine the feasibility of the task force
	studying cases of severe maternal morbidity; and
	(3)  make recommendations to help reduce the incidence
	of pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity in this
	state.
	SECTION 3.  Chapter 34, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
	adding Sections 34.0155, 34.0156, and 34.0157 to read as follows:
	Sec. 34.0155.  REPORT ON PREGNANCY-RELATED DEATHS AND
	POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION. The commission shall:
	(1)  evaluate options for reducing pregnancy-related
	deaths, focusing on the most prevalent causes of pregnancy-related
	deaths as identified in the task force's biennial report required
	under Section 34.015, and for treating postpartum depression in
	economically disadvantaged women; and
	(2)  submit a written report summarizing the
	commission's, department's, and task force's efforts to accomplish
	the tasks described by Subdivision (1) to the governor, the
	lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
	the Legislative Budget Board, and the appropriate standing
	committees of the legislature not later than December 1 of each
	even-numbered year.
	Sec. 34.0156.  REPORT ON ACTIONS TO ADDRESS MATERNAL
	MORTALITY RATES. Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered
	year, the commission shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant
	governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the
	Legislative Budget Board, and the appropriate standing committees
	of the legislature a written report summarizing the actions taken
	to address maternal morbidity and reduce maternal mortality rates.
	The report must include information from programs and initiatives
	created to address maternal morbidity and reduce maternal mortality
	rates in this state, including:
	(1)  Medicaid as defined by Section 531.001, Government
	Code;
	(2)  the children's health insurance program, including
	the perinatal program;
	(3)  the Healthy Texas Women program;
	(4)  the Family Planning Program;
	(5)  this state's program under the Maternal and Child
	Health Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. Section 701 et seq.);
	(6)  the Perinatal Advisory Council;
	(7)  state health plans; and
	(8)  the Healthy Texas Babies program.
	Sec. 34.0157.  PROGRAM EVALUATIONS; RESOURCE GUIDE; PILOT
	PROGRAM. (a) The task force, under the direction of the
	commission, shall:
	(1)  explore options for expanding the pilot program
	for pregnancy medical homes under Section 531.0996, Government
	Code;
	(2)  explore the possibility of increasing the benefits
	provided under state-administered health programs, including
	specialty care and prescriptions, for women who are at greater risk
	of having a high-risk pregnancy or premature delivery;
	(3)  evaluate supplemental payments to obstetrics
	providers for pregnancy risk assessments and evaluate the
	submission of a waiver to fund managed care organization payments
	for case management and care coordination services for women at
	high risk of severe maternal morbidity on conclusion of their
	eligibility for Medicaid as defined by Section 531.001, Government
	Code;
	(4)  evaluate the length of time to complete the
	Medicaid enrollment process for pregnant women;
	(5)  evaluate the use for Medicaid of Medicare codes
	for care coordination; and
	(6)  study the impact of the programs funded from the
	Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program federal grant and whether the
	state should continue funding the programs.
	(b)  The commission shall:
	(1)  create and maintain an online resource guide of
	mental and behavioral health providers to assist women who have
	limited or no health benefit plan coverage or mental health benefit
	plan coverage in finding affordable providers; and
	(2)  create a pilot program for managed care
	organizations to use community health workers to address the needs
	of women who have a high-risk condition, including:
	(A)  substance use disorder;
	(B)  cardiovascular disease; and
	(C)  hypertension.
	SECTION 4.  Chapter 34, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
	adding Section 34.019 to read as follows:
	Sec. 34.019.  DATA COLLECTION. The task force, under the
	direction of the commission, shall collect information relating to
	maternity care and postpartum depression in this state, including
	the:
	(1)  total number of births to Medicaid recipients;
	(2)  number of women who are screened for postpartum
	depression as a Medicaid recipient;
	(3)  total number of births to women with health
	benefit plan coverage;
	(4)  number of women with health benefit plan coverage
	who are screened for postpartum depression;
	(5)  number of women with health benefit plan coverage
	who are treated for postpartum depression;
	(6)  number of women screened for postpartum depression
	under the Healthy Texas Women program;
	(7)  number of women treated for postpartum depression
	under the Healthy Texas Women program;
	(8)  number of claims for postpartum depression
	treatment paid by the Healthy Texas Women program;
	(9)  number of claims for postpartum depression
	treatment rejected by the Healthy Texas Women program;
	(10)  postpartum depression screening and treatment
	billing codes and the number of claims for each billing code under
	the Healthy Texas Women program;
	(11)  number of days between the date of a postpartum
	depression screening and the date the patient begins treatment
	under Medicaid;
	(12)  number of days between the date of a postpartum
	depression screening and the date the patient begins treatment
	under the Healthy Texas Women program;
	(13)  number of women who screen positive for
	postpartum depression under Medicaid and the length of time
	following childbirth for the screening to occur;
	(14)  number of women with health benefit plan coverage
	who screen positive for postpartum depression and the length of
	time following childbirth for the screening to occur; and
	(15)  number of women who screen positive for
	postpartum depression under the Healthy Texas Women program and the
	length of time following childbirth for the screening to occur.
	SECTION 5.  Section 34.018, Health and Safety Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 34.018.  SUNSET PROVISION. The task force is subject to
	Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued
	in existence as provided by that chapter, the task force is
	abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2023 [2019].
	SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the
	legislative session.