- TWHC
Legislative Corner: Bill Round Up
By Perdita Henry
As the 86th Texas Legislative Session continues, we are keeping a close eye on several bills that speak directly to our policy priorities. Here is a look at some of the bills we’re tracking and their status.
Legislative priority three focuses on ensuring women have access to the full range of FDA-approved contraceptives of their choice.
HB 937 – Relating to health benefit plan coverage of prescription contraceptive drugs.
TWHC action: Testified in support on March 19.
Legislative Status: Left pending in committee.
HB 800 – Relating to covered benefits under the child health plan.
TWHC action: Testified in support on March 6.
Legislative Status: Committee report sent to Calendars.
Legislative priority four looks to increase continuity of care for women by eliminating barriers to preventive healthcare access.
HB 60 – Relating to a requirement that public institutions of higher education provide certain information regarding certain women's health programs to students.
TWHC action: Testified in support on March 6.
Legislative Status: Considered in Calendars.
SB 189 – Relating to the automatic enrollment of certain women in the Healthy Texas Women program.
TWHC action: Monitoring.
Legislative Status: Referred to Health & Human Services Committee.
HB 1879 – Relating to the automatic enrollment of certain women in Medicaid and the Healthy Texas Women and CHIP perinatal programs.
TWHC action: Monitoring.
Legislative Status: Referred to Public Health Committee.
HB 1589 – Relating to providing notification to certain pregnant women regarding their eligibility for coverage under Medicaid and the Healthy Texas Women program.
TWHC action: Submitted card of support
Legislative Status: Reported favorably without amendment(s).
HB 1641 – Relating to the provision of information to certain women enrolled in the Healthy Texas Women program.
TWHC action: Testified in support on March 20.
Legislative Status: Referred to Public Health Committee.
SB 2132 – (Identical companion to HB 1641) Relating to the provision of information to certain women enrolled in the Healthy Texas Women program.
TWCH action: Testified in support on March 27.
Legislative Status: Left pending committee.
Legislative priority five seeks to maximize the ability of the women’s healthcare safety net to reach more women and save Texas taxpayer dollars.
HB 744 – Relating to the Medicaid eligibility of certain women after a pregnancy.
TWHC action: Testified in support on March 19.
Legislative Status: Left pending in committee.
HB 1110 – Relating to the Medicaid eligibility of certain women after a pregnancy.
TWHC action: Monitoring.
Legislative Status: Referred to Human Services.
While some of the above bills have yet to be scheduled for a hearing, we will continue to monitor their statuses and are ready to be of assistance to legislative offices. We are hopeful these bills will become laws that will benefit Texas women.