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STATE OF TEXAS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

PERINATAL ISSUES 

2015 Successes:

  • Additional $50 million secured for women’s health services

  • Perinatal Advisory Council preserved; 2 rural members added

  • Additional $53 million secured for GME expansion

  • DSHS directed to implement policies increasing access to LARCs. Much credit given to the ongoing conversation doctors and lobby team have had with the agencies.

  • Auto-enrollment for women coming off of Medicaid for pregnant women and into Healthy Texas Women program (estimated launch: July 1, 2016)

  • Texas Women’s Health Advisory Committee appointed to advise HHSC and DSHS on the development of a consolidated women’s health services program.

  • Occupations tax repealed for physicians.

  • Postpartum Depression Screening and Treatment Report- HHSC/DSHS required to submit a report that includes recommendations to increase utilization of screening and treatment within Medicaid, and to increase continuity of care.

  • Mandate to provide written materials regarding FASD did not pass.

  • Personhood and legislation defining life at conception did not pass.

  • Of the 20+ abortion bills filed, only 2 passed:

    • Changes to judicial bypass made

    • Training in human trafficking for employees of abortion clinics

Looking ahead to 2016:

  • Rulemaking in progress:
    • Healthy Texas Women and Family Planning programs

      • Have submitted comments through stakeholder process as ACOG and TAOG as well as jointly with TMA and the Texas Women’s Healthcare Coalition

    • Medicaid rate review of LARCs

      • Comments submitted to HHSC in a joint statement with TMA

  • Doctors and lobby team will to continue to be actively engaged in process to create the Healthy Texas Women and Family Planning programs

  • Continue to be a resource to legislators and staff for interim hearings and issues.

  • Interim charges that will be looked at during interim hearings, leading up to the 2017 legislative session:

    • Review programs focused on improving birth outcomes including evaluating the effectiveness and identifying any cost avoidance associated with them. Study barriers pregnant women face enrolling in services and receiving regular prenatal care. Identify factors, including substance abuse, associated with preterm birth and review services available for mothers postpartum. (House Public Health)

    • Fetal tissue (Senate Health and Human Services, House State Affairs)

    • “Wrongful birth” causes of action (Senate Health and Human Services)
    • Medicaid—fraud, waste, abuse, ways to reduce cost and improve quality  (Senate Health and Human Services)
    • Transparency and adequacy of health care networks; balance billing. (House Insurance)
    • Looking at Texas's prompt payment laws regarding health care claims. (House Insurance)
    • State’s preparedness for public health threats and emergencies including responding to natural disasters and highly infectious diseases. (House Public Health)
    • Impact of chronic disease in Texas and identify the major regional chronic health challenges. (House Public Health)
    • Telemedicine (House Public Health)