By Catherine Maxwell, LWVTX Issue Chair for Women's Healthcare and Reproductive Rights
The legislative committees have been formed! Here are the committees related to women's healthcare and reproductive rights:
Senate Committee for Health and Human Services
Chair- Lois Kolkhorst (R)
Vice-Chair- Charles Perry (R)
Bob Hall (R)
Kelly Hancock (R)
Bryan Hughes (R)
Morgan LaMantia (D)
Borris Miles (D)
Kevin Sparks (R)
House Human Services
Chair- James Frank (R)
Vice-Chair- Toni Rose* (D)
Liz Campos (D)
Lacey Hull (R)
Stephanie Klick (R)
Christian Manuel Hayes (D)
Candy Noble (R)
Ana-Maria Ramos (D)
Matt Shaheen (R)
House Select Committee for Healthcare Reform
Chair- Sam Harless (R)
Vice- Chair-Donna Howard, nurse (D)
Greg Bonnen, MD (R)
John Bucy III (D)
James Frank (R)
Stephanie Klick, nurse (R)
Eddie Morales (D)
Tom Oliverson, anesthesiologist (R)
Four Price (R)
Toni Rose*, nurse (D)
Armando Walle (D)
*Representative Toni Rose is putting together the bill on funding 12 months of post-natal healthcare for women on Medicaid. There are about four bills already written and filed. However, I was informed that Rep. Rose’s bill is the one all the agencies dealing with this issue are waiting for. It has not been filed yet.
The Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Report was delivered to the Governor on December 14, 2022. The report can be seen here. After the cover letter, there are info graphics that are helpful to understand the status of women’s healthcare in Texas.
Good news! The Legislature’s budget they are sending to the Governor funds everything the Texas Health and Human Commission requested. This means that all claims from providers will be paid in full. Historically, the Legislature would set programs but not fund them or not fund them fully. Everyone in the Texas Women’s Healthcare Coalition were dancing in their Zoom boxes. The word came from Faith Sandberg-Rodriquez, HHS’s associate commissioner of Family Clinical Services. Also, HHS has a mobile health unit servicing south Texas. They are planning to fund a second unit.
Reproductive Rights: A ruling by a federal Texas judge on the abortion drug mifepristone is expected by the end of February. Several bills to either support the drug or ban it have been filed with the state legislature, but since the committees have just been formed, no action has been taken. Background info can be found here.