State Policy Updates
Providers and clients need good policies and strong investment to ensure access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services
Wrap-up from the 87th Regular Legislative Session
July 16, 2021
On May 31, 2021, the Texas Legislature adjourned sine die, ending the 87th Regular Legislative Session. Every Body Texas’s legislative wrap-up summarizes the work of this session through the lens of our policy priorities:
- Prioritize critical safety net healthcare programs including Healthy Texas Women and the Family Planning Program.
- Address healthcare coverage gaps by extending Medicaid coverage for new moms from 60days to one year postpartum and accepting federal Medicaid funding to offer insurance to low-income adults in Texas.
- Maintain and adopt new flexibilities that promote increased access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services, including telehealth.
While we saw limited progress in each of our priorities, there were missed opportunities to increase access to critical healthcare services for Texans during this session. More work remains during the legislative interim to increase access to sexual and reproductive healthcare—which we preview in the attached brief you can read by clicking the button below.
Updates from the 87th Session
Updated June 4, 2021
At Every Body Texas, we believe that all people deserve access to safe, unbiased, high-quality sexual and reproductive healthcare services. Throughout the 87th Texas Legislative session we will be providing testimony in support of policies and investments that increase access to sexual and reproductive healthcare.
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End of Session
Statement on the End of 87th Regular Session
On June 4, 2021, Kami Geoffray, CEO of Every Body Texas issued a statement on the end of the 87th Regular Texas Legislative Session.
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Testimony
Written Testimony on HB 133
HB 133 by Rep. Toni Rose would keep moms on Medicaid for 12 months following pregnancy, instead of two months. Every Body Texas submitted written testimony in support of this bill in the March 19, 2021 Senate Health and Human Services Committee hearing.
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Testimony
Written Testimony on SB 1149
On May 11, 2021 the House Human Services Committee heard testimony on SB 1149 by Rep. Lois Kolkhorst -- a bill that would bring Health Texas Women under the administration of Managed Care Organizations (MCOs). Every Body Texas provided written testimony expressing our concerns.
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Advocacy
Supporting The Free Choice of Provider Act
On April 1, 2021 Every Body Texas joined Planned Parenthood Texas Votes in support of HB 3825 and SB 1722, protecting patient choice for their providers of sexual and reproductive healthcare. Read our remarks here.
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Texas Women's Healthcare Caucus
Caucus Briefing
On March 16, 2021, Every Body Texas's CEO, Kami Geoffray briefed the Texas Women's Healthcare Caucus on the status of Title X, our legislative priorities, and women's health funding in the Texas budget. Download a PDF of her presentation.
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House Appropriations Committee
Subcommittee on Article II
On March 1, 2021, Every Body Texas provided invited testimony for the House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Article II, on funding for Women's Health and the Texas Family Planning Program. Download a PDF of her testimony here.
Legislative Appropriations Request
Updated December 8, 2020
On October 27, 2020 the Texas Health and Human Services Commission released their Legislative Appropriations Request (LAR) for the 2022-2023 biennium. Before the start of each legislative session (held in odd number years), state agencies must prepare and submit LARs that will inform the development of the General Appropriations Act (GAA), the legislation that provides state agencies with funding for the following two fiscal years (biennium).
Informed by an agency’s strategic plan, the LAR outlines priorities for the next biennium and includes detailed fiscal information (like projected costs, methods of finance, and performance measures) for programs and services along with budget riders—which are policy directives that are included in the GAA.
Click the button below to download an Issue Brief with a focus on the funding requested to support the women’s health programs administered by HHSC: Healthy Texas Women, Family Planning Program, and Breast and Cervical Cancer Services.
You can also read our comments in response to the Public Budget Hearing submitted to the Legislative Budget Board and Governor’s Office on Budget and Policy on November 25, 2020 on funding for these programs.
Interim Hearing Testimony
Updated October 30, 2020
Every Body Texas provided written testimony to several legislative committees in advance of the 87th Legislature.
As the rates of unemployed and uninsured Texans rise across the state as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical for state leaders to both fund safety net healthcare services and to reduce the number of uninsured Texans to ensure that our health and economy recover. Every Body Texas urges the Texas Legislature to maintain funding levels for Healthy Texas Women and the Family Planning Program during the 87th Legislature, and to work with HHSC and key stakeholders to address outstanding women’s health program implementation issues.
We support policies that will help reduce the high uninsured rate among Texas adults, including extending Medicaid coverage for new moms from 60 days to one year postpartum and accepting federal Medicaid funding to offer insurance to low-income adults in Texas. We also support maintaining flexibility for telehealth and telemedicine services, allowing clients to safely access care from their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic and potentially increasing access to care across Texas longer-term.
Click on the images below to download testimony
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