Bill Text: TX SB17 | 2017 | 85th Legislature 1st Special Session | Comm Sub

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Relating to maternal health and safety, pregnancy-related deaths, and maternal morbidity, including postpartum depression.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 97-34)

Status: (Passed) 2017-08-16 - Effective immediately [SB17 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-SB17-Comm_Sub.html

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By: Kolkhorst, et al. S.B. No. 17
(In the Senate - Filed July 17, 2017; July 20, 2017, read
first time and referred to Committee on Health & Human Services;
July 22, 2017, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 9,
Nays 0; July 22, 2017, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to maternal health and safety, pregnancy-related deaths,
and maternal morbidity, including postpartum depression.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. 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 and [in] severe maternal morbidity;
(C) health conditions and factors that
disproportionately affect the most at-risk population as
determined in the joint 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) compare rates of pregnancy-related deaths based on
the socioeconomic status of the mother;
(3) determine the feasibility of the task force
studying cases of severe maternal morbidity; and
(4) in consultation with the Perinatal Advisory
Council, [(3)] make recommendations to help reduce the incidence of
pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity in this
state.
SECTION 2. Sections 34.007(a) and (b), Health and Safety
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) The department shall determine a statistically
significant number of cases of pregnancy-related deaths for review.
The department shall either randomly select cases or select all
cases for the task force to review under this subsection to reflect
a cross-section of pregnancy-related deaths in this state.
(b) The department shall statistically analyze aggregate
data of pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity in
this state to identify any trends, rates, or disparities.
SECTION 3. Section 34.015(b), Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) The report must include the task force's
recommendations under Section 34.005(4) [34.005(3)].
SECTION 4. 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, SEVERE
MATERNAL MORBIDITY, 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 joint biennial report required under
Section 34.015, and for treating postpartum depression in
economically disadvantaged women;
(2) in coordination with the department and the task
force, identify strategies to:
(A) lower costs of providing medical assistance
under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, related to severe maternal
morbidity and chronic illness; and
(B) improve quality outcomes related to the
underlying causes of severe maternal morbidity and chronic illness;
and
(3) not later than December 1 of each even-numbered
year, 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 that includes:
(A) a summary of the commission's and
department's efforts to accomplish the tasks described by
Subdivisions (1) and (2); and
(B) a summary of the report required by Section
34.0156.
Sec. 34.0156. MATERNAL HEALTH AND SAFETY INITIATIVE.
(a) Using existing resources, the department, in collaboration
with the task force, shall promote and facilitate the use among
health care providers in this state of maternal health and safety
informational materials, including tools and procedures related to
best practices in maternal health and safety.
(b) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year,
the department shall submit a report to the executive commissioner
that includes:
(1) a summary of the initiative's implementation and
outcomes; and
(2) recommendations for improving the effectiveness
of the initiative.
Sec. 34.0157. FEASIBILITY STUDY RELATED TO MATERNAL HEALTH
AND SAFETY INITIATIVE. (a) Using existing resources and not later
than December 1, 2018, the commission shall study and determine the
feasibility of adding a provider's use of procedures included in
the maternal health and safety initiative described by Section
34.0156 as an indicator of quality for commission data and medical
assistance quality-based payment purposes.
(b) The department shall collaborate with the commission in
compiling available data and information needed to complete the
feasibility study.
(c) The commission shall include the commission's
determination from the feasibility study in the report required by
Section 34.0155.
(d) This section expires May 1, 2019.
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. If before implementing any provision of this Act
a state agency determines that an additional waiver or additional
authorization from a federal agency is necessary for implementation
of that provision, the agency affected by the provision shall
request the waiver or authorization and may delay implementing that
provision until the waiver or authorization is granted.
SECTION 7. 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.
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