A priority bill in the Texas Residence would expand Medicaid coverage for females right after pregnancy

AUSTIN (CBSNewsTexas.com) – The new bill, deemed a leading priority in the Texas Residence, would expand Medicaid coverage for females right after pregnancy.

Due to the public overall health emergency of COVID-19, females received one particular year of Medicaid, a overall health care system for the poor, one particular year right after pregnancy.

But the state of overall health emergency and federal rule expires in Might.

That is why supporters say this new bill to continue expanded overall health care in Texas is significant.

Patrice Lott welcomed the birth of her daughter Kamilah-Joii in 2020 and credits her Medicaid coverage with assisting her provide a healthier infant. “It could not have occurred if I hadn’t been capable to go to the medical doctor.”

But for the duration of an earlier pregnancy in 2019, Lott abruptly went to the hospital and discovered from physicians that she had suffered a miscarriage.

Right after that occurred, she was only capable to keep on Medicaid for two months, which was all the state offered.

Lott stated: “When I was completed with my doctor’s appointments it was fairly substantially specifically two months away and I was selecting items up a bit attempting to figure out exactly where I could go, who I could see.

Now she’s supporting Residence Bill 12, which would extend Medicare coverage from two months to 12 months for females right after childbirth or an involuntary abortion.

She testified at a legislative committee hearing in the Texas Residence this week.

Democratic state representative Tony Rose of Dallas wrote the bill.

In an interview with CBS News Texas, Rose stated her legislation is essential. “We’ve demanded that females have babies, we ought to demand that they have the care they want to provide these babies and take care of their bodies and have the extensive care they want right after providing birth.”

The National Maternal Mortality Report released in December identified that there have been 52 pregnancy-connected deaths in 2019, and of these, 47 deaths or 90% have been preventable.

Amongst its suggestions, improve access to extensive overall health solutions one particular year right after pregnancy.

Rose stated, “What we’re attempting to do is lower the quantity of deaths of females in Texas.”

The bill enjoys broad help in the Texas Residence, which involves Republicans and Residence Speaker Dade Phelan.

Healthcare and enterprise groups also voiced help for the duration of the state legislative hearing.

Dr. John Seago, president of Texas Ideal to Life told lawmakers, “At Texas Ideal to Life, we completely help the intent of this bill.

But he stated that whilst he supports the concept, they want to alter the language of the bill. “We do not want to encourage any person to have an abortion, an illegal abortion, an elective abortion in one more state.”

As for Patrice Lott, she hopes lawmakers will pass the bill. “The least we can do is give them overall health care so that if some thing goes incorrect and an emergency occurs, they are not at dwelling attempting to take care of themselves.”

The bill did not pass out of committee, but the Residence is probably to pass it, as it did by a wide margin in 2021.

Two years ago, the Texas Senate vetoed a bill to extend Medicaid coverage for a year.

As an alternative, the Senate would only approve a six-month extension of coverage, and the Residence agreed.

But the Biden administration rejected the Texas system since it did not supply year-round Medicaid coverage for females right after pregnancy.

Jack Fink

Jack Fink covers politics for KTVT-Television CBS 11 and has been with the station considering that September 2003.