AUSTIN (CBSNewsTexas.com) – A new bill, regarded a leading priority in the Texas Residence, would extend Medicaid coverage for females right after their pregnancies.

Mainly because of the COVID-19 public overall health emergency, females have received one particular year of Medicaid, the overall health care system for the poor, for one particular year right after their pregnancy.

But the overall health emergency and federal rule expires in Might.

This is why supporters say this new bill to continue extended overall health coverage in Texas is significant.

Patrice Lott welcomed the birth of her daughter Kamilah-Joii in 2020 and credits her Medicaid coverage for assisting her to provide a wholesome infant. “That would not have been in a position to have taken spot if I could not go to the physicians.”

But for the duration of an earlier pregnancy in 2019, Lott abruptly went to the hospital and discovered from physicians, she was suffering a miscarriage.

Following that occurred, she could only stay on Medicaid for two months, which was all the state supplied.

Lott stated, “After I completed my doctor’s visits, it was fairly a lot proper at two months and I was scavenging a small bit attempting to figure out exactly where I could go, who I could see.”

Now, she supports Residence Bill 12 that would extend medicaid coverage from two months to 12 months for females right after they give birth or have an involuntary miscarriage.

She testified at a Texas Residence legislative committee hearing this week.

Democratic State Representative Toni Rose of Dallas wrote the bill.

In an interview with CBS News Texas, Rose stated, her legislation is critical. “We’ve demanded that females have babies, we need to demand that they have the care that they want to provide these babies and take care of their bodies and have complete care they want right after the delivery.”

A state report on maternal mortality released in December discovered there have been 52 pregnancy-connected deaths in 2019, and that of these, 47 deaths or 90% have been preventable.

Amongst its suggestions, growing access to complete overall health solutions the year right after pregnancy.

Rose stated, “What we’re attempting to do is lower the quantity of deaths of females in Texas.”

The bill enjoys widespread help in the Texas Residence, which contains Republicans and Residence Speaker Dade Phelan.

Health-related and organization groups also voiced help for the duration of the state legislative hearing.

Dr. John Seago, President of Texas Ideal To Life told lawmakers, “At Texas Ideal To Life, we completely help the objective of this bill.”

But he stated whilst he backs the notion, they want to adjust the bill’s language. “We do not want to incentivize any person to have an abortion, an illegal abortion, an elective abortion in a different state.”

As for Patrice Lott, she hopes lawmakers pass the bill. “The least we can do is give them healthcare coverage so that if one thing does go incorrect and an emergency does occur, they are not at house attempting to take care of themselves.”

The bill was not voted out of committee, but the Residence is probably to pass it, as it did by a wide margin in 2021.

Two years ago, the Texas Senate opposed the Residence bill to extend Medicaid coverage for one particular year.

Alternatively, the Senate would only approve coverage to be extended for six months, and the Residence went along.

But the Biden administration rejected the Texas system simply because it did not present a complete year’s worth of Medicaid coverage for females right after their pregnancies.

Jack Fink

Jack Fink covers politics for KTVT-Television CBS 11 and has been with the station because September 2003.