Women's Healthcare Update- 3/13/23
By
Joleen E Smith
Posted: 2023-03-13T20:35:00Z
By Catherine Maxwell, LWVTX Issue Chair for Women's Healthcare and Reproductive Rights
On Tuesday, March 14th, the House Insurance committee will holding hearing on bill HB 916 that will require insurance companies and Medicaid managed care companies to allow women the ability to obtain twelve months of a prescribed contraceptive drug in one pharmacy visit vs. returning monthly or tri-monthly for refills.
On Thursday, March 16th, LWVTX has been asked to give electronic testimony on HB 12, expanding postpartum care to twelve months for Medicaid patients. Texans Care for Children are taking the lead on this bill. They anticipate a receptive hearing from the House committee. They have three women who will be giving testimony. They have asked other supporters of this bill to provide electronic testimony.
HB 465 “to provide Medicaid coverage of doula services” was scheduled for public hearing on Tuesday, March 7th, and everything happened very quickly that day - it was considered in public hearing, testimony was taken and recorded in committee, and the bill was left pending in committee. There was no time from one action to the other to do anything. “Left pending in committee” means the bill will not be advancing further.
Currently, any bills pertaining to reproductive rights are not moving. This includes those bills that would remove the penalty exclusion for pregnant women. The bills have been filed but no action has been announced. Meanwhile, lawsuits are being filed to test Texas law in courts: