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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of maternal health access zones. |
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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 HEALTH ACCESS ZONES |
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Sec. 32.101. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Maternal health access zone" means a contiguous |
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geographic area of this state that has measurable and documented |
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health disparities and poor health outcomes and that is designated |
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by the department as a maternal health access zone under this |
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subchapter. |
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(2) "Task force" means the Maternal Mortality and |
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Morbidity Task Force established under Chapter 34. |
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Sec. 32.102. ESTABLISHMENT OF MATERNAL HEALTH ACCESS ZONES. |
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The department, in conjunction with the commission and the task |
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force, shall establish maternal health access zones in areas of |
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this state that are medically underserved or have health |
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disparities among socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, and geographic |
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populations to increase access to maternal health care and reduce |
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the maternal mortality and morbidity rates in those areas. |
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Sec. 32.103. ELIGIBILITY FOR FUNDING. The department, in |
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conjunction with the commission and task force, shall select at |
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least one health care facility or nonprofit entity as a health care |
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provider for each designated maternal health access zone. The |
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facility or entity is eligible to receive funds for programs |
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determined by the department to reduce health disparities and |
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health care costs and improve health outcomes for women residing in |
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the zone who are or who have recently been pregnant. |
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Sec. 32.104. RULES. The executive commissioner by rule |
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shall establish the eligibility requirements, an application |
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process, and any other rules necessary to implement this |
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subchapter. The application process must require each applicant to |
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submit a sustainable plan to reduce health disparities and health |
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care costs and improve health outcomes for women residing in the |
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zone. |
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Sec. 32.105. GIFTS AND GRANTS. The department may accept |
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gifts and grants from any source for the purposes of this |
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subchapter. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect December 1, 2017. |