Health and Human Services

Lawmakers may consider proposals to reform Child Protective Services at the Department of Family and Protective Services, continuing efforts in previous sessions to reduce worker turnover and prevent child abuse and fatalities. Proposals may focus on increasing the state's foster care capacity by expanding community-based foster care (formerly known as foster care redesign), limiting caseloads for caseworkers, and increasing financial assistance for kinship caregivers. Other proposals may include expanding transitional living services for youth exiting the foster care system and reducing barriers to adoption.

Mental Health

Child Protective Services

Telemedicine

Sunset Review of Professional Boards

Medicaid Managed Care

Lawmakers may consider proposals to address mental health treatment in Texas, including proposals to enhance peer support services, address shortages of psychiatric treatment beds for both civil and forensic patients, and expand community treatment options. Other proposals could include establishing a statewide mental health screening program using telemedicine to identify K-12 students with mental health issues and increasing access to licensed professional counselors.

The 86th Legislature may consider proposals to expand access to telemedicine in rural areas and to address issues with health insurance reimbursement for this treatment modality, which uses advanced telecommunications technology to connect a health care provider with a patient in a distant location. Proposals could include increasing access to telemonitoring for patients with chronic conditions and those in correctional facilities, as well as addressing the quality of provider networks in rural areas.

As most of the state's Medicaid programs continue transitioning to managed care, lawmakers may consider proposals to encourage health provider participation in the Medicaid network and to address provider reimbursement rates under managed care. Other proposals may include increasing transparency in the rate-setting process, developing more value-based payment models to improve quality care, and strengthening oversight of managed care contracts.

Fetal Remains

Lawmakers may consider proposals to limit the use of fetal tissue for research purposes. They also may consider proposals to place into statute agency rules requiring the burial or cremation of fetal remains.

Several state health professional boards will undergo review by the Sunset Advisory Commission this session, including the Texas Medical Board, the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors, the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists, the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners, and the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists. Lawmakers may consider recommendations to adopt the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact and establish in statute an advanced-level medical radiologic technologist certificate. A proposal may emerge to consolidate three of the behavioral health regulatory boards with the Board of Examiners of Psychologists to create the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council.

Abortion

The Legislature could consider proposals to regulate abortion. This could include prohibiting a person from performing an abortion when a heartbeat is detected or restricting the use of telemedicine for women seeking emergency contraception.

As part of the state's response to opioid abuse and addiction, lawmakers may consider proposals to establish limits on first-time opioid prescriptions, enhance the Prescription Monitoring Program, require electronic prescribing of certain controlled substances, and expand access to treatment for those addicted to opioids and other substances. Lawmakers also may consider recommendations to establish a "good Samaritan" defense to prosecution for certain drug offenses, a needle exchange program, and a statewide standing order to enable all pharmacies to provide naloxone to eligible persons without the pharmacy obtaining a physician's order.

Maternal Health and Mortality

As lawmakers address concerns about maternal deaths in Texas, the Legislature may consider proposals to increase access to pre- and post-natal health coverage for women, especially low-income women on Medicaid. Other proposals may focus on improving the accuracy of maternal death certificate data and developing programs to reduce risk factors, such as cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, and obesity.

Opioids and Substance Abuse

Scope of Practice

Texas faces a health care practitioner shortage, particularly in rural areas. Lawmakers may consider proposals to expand the ability of advanced nurse practitioners and physician assistants to provide primary care. Other proposals to increase the number of health practitioners by expanding educational opportunities and revising licensure regulations to lower barriers to entry may be discussed.

Lawsuits

Lawmakers may consider proposals to limit lawsuits in which parents claim that a doctor failed to properly warn of the risk of conceiving or giving birth to a child with certain fetal anomalies.

Freestanding Emergency Rooms

As freestanding emergency rooms become more common in Texas, legislators may consider proposals to address related billing and advertising issues. Proposals may include requiring these facilities to clarify to patients whether they are in-network or out-of-network. Legislators also may consider proposals to expand consumer protections for billing, also known as surprise medical bills.

Proposals to strengthen Medicaid managed care services and the foster care system could dominate the 86th Legislature's discussion on health and human services. Lawmakers also could consider measures to expand prevention and treatment options for individuals who are at risk for or struggling with substance and mental health issues.

All cited from the 86th Legislature