The Texas House and Senate both have strong anti-choice presence, so we'll need to work extra hard during the upcoming session. Here are some of the most important bills concerning choice that will be coming up:

Contraceptive Coverage- In Texas, no insurer may exclude oral contraceptives from prescription drug benefits when all other prescription drugs are covered. HMOs are required to provide basic health care services, defined to include preventative health services including a "broad range of voluntary family planning services" (term not defined).

Planned Parenthood and TARAL are considering legislation that would require private insurance companies that routinely cover any FDA-approved prescription contraceptives, not just oral contraceptives.

Medicaid Waiver- Would allow the state to expand elligibility for Medicaid too its citizens living at or below 185% of poverty. 

Currently in Texas, citizens are eligible for Medicaid Family Planning only if they are living at or below 17% of poverty. The 17% U.S. poverty level for a family of four is $2,839 a year.

Thirteen states already have Medicaid waivers. Family planning is granted the most favorable match for funding. This means that for every dollar the state spends on family planning, federal Medicaid pays $9.

House Bill 17-  Also known as "Misinformed Consent" for abortion. Would require increased waiting periods, distribution of state-mandated materials on fetal development,  and facility placement limitations.

Rider 17-  Requires parental consent for "medical, dental, psychological or surgical treatment of a minor" with state funds. This means parental consent for birth control, treatment of STDs, a Pap Smear, etc.

Rider 18-  States that the Texas Department of Health "may distribute or provide appropriated funds only to recipients which show good faith efforts to comply with all child abuse reporting guidelines and requirements set forth in Chapter 261, Texas Family Code." On the surface, this looks like an honest effort to ensure that agencies receiving state funds are complying with child abuse reporting guidelines- not exactly. 

Rider 18 was the subject of controversy several months ago when a draft of the health department's proposed guidelines was distributed to providers. It included unreasonable, discriminatory provisions, such as requiring teens within a certain age range to report name, age and gender of their partners to their health care provider. 

Planned Parenthood's Legislative Update....

NARAL's Legislative Update....

11/17/00
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