Bill Pre-filing Confirms Health Coverage is on the TX Lege’s Agenda
For Immediate Release
Contact: Peter Clark, [email protected], 512-473-2274
Austin - The high number of health coverage bills introduced today by Texas lawmakers during the first hours of bill pre-filing at the Legislature is the latest sign that health coverage will be a top issue during the upcoming session, according to health policy analysts.
During the first hours of pre-filing for the 2021 session, legislators have already filed numerous bills to:
Expand Medicaid to grocery store clerks, child care educators, and other low-wage Texans (SB 38, SB 117, SB 118, SB 119, HB 171, HB 389, HB 398, SJR 11, SJR 14, HJR 9, HJR 23, HJR 24, etc.);
Continue health coverage for mothers for 12 months after childbirth rather than two months, as recommended by the state’s Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force (SB 141, HB 98, HB 107, HB 133, HB 146, etc.); and
Allow eligible children to remain enrolled in Medicaid insurance for 12 continuous months rather than conducting inaccurate mid-year eligibility reviews (SB 39, HB 290, etc).
“We know this is going to be a legislative session focused on COVID, and clearly health coverage should be front and center,” said Dr. Laura Guerra-Cardus, Deputy Director of Children’s Defense Fund-Texas, a member of the Cover Texas Now coalition. “We’re excited about the progress we can make this session to ensure more Texans can go to the doctor, get testing and treatment for COVID, catch cancer before it spreads, or get other medical treatment they need.”
The bills come after numerous Texas Republican legislators spoke out in recent weeks about the need to expand health coverage in Texas. Additionally the Texas Comptroller’s office recently highlighted the importance of tackling the rising Texas uninsured rate, and former House Speaker Joe Straus announced his support for Medicaid expansion. Furthermore, a recent study showed that the Texas Legislature will save money by implementing Medicaid expansion, providing legislators an additional tool for addressing the state’s revenue shortfall during the upcoming session.
“The pandemic has put a huge spotlight on the need for the Legislature to reduce the uninsured rate,” said Katie Mitten, Health Policy Associate for Texans Care for Children, a member of the Texans Care for Children coalition. “We’re glad to see so many Republican and Democratic officials in Texas speaking out about the need to reduce the uninsured rate this session.”
Texas has the highest uninsured rate in the nation, with high uninsured rates in Texas among White, Hispanic, Black, Asian, and Native American children and adults as well as significant racial disparities in health coverage and health outcomes. The Texas uninsured rate has grown during the pandemic as more Texans have lost job-based health insurance.
“COVID not only created new health care challenges in Texas, but it also opened legislators’ eyes to the uninsured problem that has existed in our state for years,” said Anne Dunkelberg, Associate Director of Every Texan, a member of the Cover Texas Now coalition. “I’m optimistic that legislators will come together from both sides of the aisle to reduce the state’s uninsured rate this session.”
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