Promoting the health of mothers and babies is a priority for everyone who works in health care. From hospitals’ work to reduce preventable maternal mortality and morbidity to screening newborns for certain potentially devastating conditions to meeting certain designation requirements to provide neonatal and maternal care, Texas hospitals are committed to protecting and promoting the health of Texas moms and babies.
Texas Hospitals Focus on Maternal and Newborn Health
A healthy baby has a better chance of growing into a healthy child and a healthy and productive adult. Yet, in the state with the largest number of residents without health insurance, access to comprehensive pre-natal and post-natal care for all Texas moms and babies is a challenge. Texas hospitals have long worked with lawmakers and state health agencies to identify needed public policies to improve the health outcomes of Texas moms and babies. Read THA’s whitepaper to learn about the policy requirements and proactive steps hospitals have implemented and taken to improve maternal and newborn health.
Legislation
HB 136 by Reps. Shawn Thierry & Tom Oliverson – Relating to the confidentiality and reporting of certain information on maternal mortality to the Department of State Health Services and to a work group establishing a maternal mortality and morbidity data registry.
Resources
- THA Comments on Maternal Level of Care Designation Rules (8/8/22)
- THA Comments on Extension of Postpartum Medicaid Eligibility (5/5/22)
- THA Comments on Draft Rules Regarding Hospital Level of Care Designation for Maternal Care (2/14/22)
- THA Takeaways: Texas Hospitals Support HB 136
- Medicaid Expansion is Associated With Lower Maternal Mortality (1/23/21) | Women’s Health Issues Journal
- Opportunities to Integrate Early Childhood Brain-Building Models into Texas Health Centers and Pediatric Practices
- Policy Brief – Early Childhood Profile and Availability of “Brain-Building” Services in Central Texas, East Texas, and Upper Gulf Regions
- Action Plan Video: Better Health for Mothers and Babies Initiative (7/25/19) | AHA
- Video: AHA’s Better Health for Mothers and Babies Initiative: Discussion Guide (7/25/19) | AHA
- Texas Hospitals Support Committee Substitute to House Bill 2703 (April 2019)
- TDSHS/THA Letter to Hospital CEOs Regarding Newborn Screening Timeliness
News
Newborn Screening
Each year, about 98 percent of the 4 million newborns in the U.S. are screened for an array of serious genetic and other health conditions. Texas hospitals play a critical role in screening newborns for certain potentially devastating conditions that with early intervention and treatment can change a child’s future and prevent life-long disability or death.
Securing Maternal and Neonatal Level of Care Designations to Provide Quality Care
House Bill 15, 83rd Legislature, directed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the Texas Department of State Health Services to establish criteria and assign hospital levels of care designations for neonatal and maternal services. House Bill 3433, 84th Legislature, then required Texas hospitals to have a NICU level of care designation in place by Oct. 1, 2018 and a maternal level of care designation in place by Sept. 1, 2020 in order to receive Medicaid reimbursements for neonatal and maternal services provided.