Texas House Approves Medicaid Restructuring Plan, Adds Women’s Health Pilot Program

The Texas House on May 22 gave preliminary approval to a Senate-passed bill (SB 1156) that would shift control of the state's Medicaid program from the state Department of Health to the state Health and Human Services Commission, the AP/Houston Chronicle reports (AP/Houston Chronicle, 5/22). The bill, expected to save the state $105 million by streamlining the program's administration, would also simplify the enrollment process and increase reimbursements to doctors on the Mexican border "who have a disproportionately high percentage of Medicaid patients." While the measure passed "without objection," lawmakers engaged in an "impromptu debate" over a provision in the bill that would establish a pilot women's health program (Brooks, Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, 5/23). The provision calls for the establishment of the Demonstration Project for Women's Health Care Services, a five-year program that would "expand access to preventive health and family planning services" to women whose net family income is at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. Eligible women would be entitled to "counseling and education on contraceptive methods," "provision of contraceptives," and screening for cervical and breast cancer, STDs and other health benefits (SB 1156 text, 5/23). Rep. Phil King (R) added to the bill an amendment limiting program eligibility to those over the age of 18 in order to prohibit the program from, as he stated, "being used as a cash cow to distribute contraceptives to minors" (AP/Houston Chronicle, 5/22). But Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D), the author of the state Senate-passed bill, said that the age amendment and another amendment preventing the state from recognizing same-sex unions "don't seem to be appropriate," adding that the state Senate "will probably reject the changes" -- a move that would send the bill to a conference committee responsible for reaching a compromise (Ft. Worth Star Telegram, 5/23).