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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the maternal mental health peer support pilot program |
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for perinatal mood and anxiety disorder. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter E to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER E. MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH PEER SUPPORT PILOT PROGRAM |
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Sec. 32.101. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Peer support service" means a service provided by |
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a peer support specialist to a person with mental illness or |
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substance abuse conditions in accordance with commission rules |
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regarding peer specialists. |
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(2) "Perinatal mood and anxiety disorder" includes any |
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of the following psychiatric illnesses, as defined by the American |
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Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual |
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(DSM), that occur during pregnancy or within 12 months postpartum: |
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(A) bipolar disorder, including hypomanic, |
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manic, depressive, and mixed types; |
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(B) major depressive disorder, including |
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single-episode and recurrent types; |
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(C) generalized anxiety disorder; |
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(D) obsessive-compulsive disorder; |
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(E) paranoid or other psychotic disorder; and |
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(F) post-traumatic stress disorder. |
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(3) "Pilot program" means the maternal mental health |
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peer support pilot program established under this subchapter. |
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Sec. 32.102. ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The |
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commission shall establish and operate the maternal mental health |
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peer support pilot program to reduce the risk and manage the effects |
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of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders in women through the |
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delivery of peer support services at federally qualified health |
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centers located in the geographic areas in which the pilot program |
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operates. |
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(b) The commission shall establish the pilot program in five |
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counties in this state that: |
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(1) either: |
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(A) are within an area designated as a mental |
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health professional shortage area; or |
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(B) have high rates of maternal mortality and |
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morbidity as determined by the commission in consultation with the |
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Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force established under |
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Chapter 34; and |
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(2) include at least one rural county and one county |
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with a population of at least 500,000. |
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Sec. 32.103. OPERATION OF PILOT PROGRAM. (a) In |
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establishing the pilot program, the commission shall: |
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(1) develop a strategy for federally qualified health |
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centers participating in the pilot program and persons responsible |
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for training to collaborate on the training, certification, and |
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guidance of peer support specialists in accordance with existing |
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state procedures and programs; |
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(2) seek comments regarding best practices for the |
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design and implementation of the pilot program from relevant |
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interested persons, including federally qualified health centers, |
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mental health care providers, local mental health authorities, |
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certified peer support specialists and affiliated organizations, |
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women's health care providers, and individuals who have personal |
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experience with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders; |
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(3) develop specialized training to: |
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(A) identify and treat symptoms of perinatal mood |
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and anxiety disorders; and |
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(B) provide peer support services to pregnant |
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women and new mothers; |
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(4) develop a strategy for federally qualified health |
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centers and peer support specialists participating in the pilot |
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program to provide peer support services through any form of |
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telephonic communication; |
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(5) develop a strategy with federally qualified health |
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centers participating in the pilot program to integrate the |
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delivery of peer support services with the health care services |
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provided by the centers to women during pregnancy and within one |
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year of giving birth; |
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(6) create a protocol within federally qualified |
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health centers participating in the pilot program for referring to |
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peer support services women who are diagnosed as having or |
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identified as being at risk of developing a perinatal mood and |
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anxiety disorder; |
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(7) ensure that services provided by peer support |
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specialists under the pilot program are within the scope of a duty |
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of care prescribed by commission rule for peer support specialists |
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who provide similar services; and |
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(8) develop a method for collecting data, including by |
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consulting with the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force and |
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other relevant entities regarding the data, on: |
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(A) maternal health and mental health outcomes; |
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and |
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(B) substance use by women receiving peer support |
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services through the pilot program. |
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(b) A peer support specialist who provides peer support |
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services through the pilot program at a federally qualified health |
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center shall: |
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(1) provide peer support services to women who: |
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(A) based on the results of a postpartum |
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depression screening or other screening tool, are diagnosed as |
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having or identified as being at risk of developing a perinatal mood |
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and anxiety disorder; and |
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(B) are interested in receiving peer support |
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services; and |
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(2) through the use of the specialist's personal |
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experience with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders: |
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(A) provide guidance to the women; |
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(B) if necessary, advocate for the women to |
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receive mental health care services or other specialized health |
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care services; and |
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(C) provide the women with information on mental |
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health care resources as necessary. |
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Sec. 32.104. FUNDING. In addition to money appropriated by |
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the legislature, the commission may accept gifts, grants, and |
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donations from any source for the purpose of establishing the pilot |
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program and compensating peer support specialists under the pilot |
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program. |
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Sec. 32.105. REPORT. Not later than January 1, 2021, the |
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commission shall prepare and submit to the governor, lieutenant |
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governor, and legislature a written report that: |
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(1) evaluates the success of the pilot program in |
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reducing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and substance use in |
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women who received peer support services under the pilot program; |
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and |
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(2) recommends whether the pilot program should be |
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continued, expanded, or terminated. |
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Sec. 32.106. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires September |
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1, 2023. |
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SECTION 2. (a) Not later than December 31, 2019, the |
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executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission |
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shall adopt rules as necessary to establish the pilot program as |
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required by Subchapter E, Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, as |
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added by this Act. |
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(b) Not later than June 30, 2020, the Health and Human |
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Services Commission shall establish the pilot program as required |
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by Subchapter E, Chapter 32, Health and Safety Code, as added by |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |