For the record - N Tx Votes on Medicaid Waiver Bill

[crispini]

And even though it passed, there's some not-good stuff here. :(

April 8, 2005
www.ppnt.org


Yesterday, the Texas Senate passed SB 747, the Medicaid Waiver for Women's Health bill. The next step is for the bill to go to a House of Representatives committee. There is no action needed at this point, but we will let you know when you need to communicate with North Texas committee members on this bill.


Amendment Added to Prohibit Planned Parenthoods from Participating
Unfortunately, the bill passed with an amendment by Senator Bob Deuell (R-Greenville) that prohibits funds under the waiver from going to agencies that "perform or promote elective abortions," even when the agencies also provide family planning services. This amendment will prohibit the 82 Planned Parenthood clinics in Texas from participating in the waiver project and receiving Medicaid funds.


Senator Deuell said during debate of the amendment that there are many other organizations available to participate in the program that can provide comprehensive health care services. He further said that the exclusion of Planned Parenthoods will not affect women's access health care. This is just not true. Planned Parenthoods are the largest provider of basic women's health care services in the state, serving almost 300,000 patients a year. There are few other providers that can provide family planning services to the estimated 500,000 women who will be eligible for services under the Medicaid Waiver.


Here is how North Texas Senators voted on Senator Deuell's amendment. A "yes" vote is a vote for the amendment and "no" vote is a vote against the amendment.


Sen. Kim Brimer (R-Ft. Worth) - YES
Sen. John Carona (R-Dallas) - YES
Sen. Bob Deuell (R-Greenville) - YES
Sen. Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler) - ABSENT
Sen. Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls) - YES
Sen. Chris Harris (R-Arlington) - YES
Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Lewisville) - YES
Sen. Florence Shapiro (R-Plano) - YES
Sen. Todd Staples (R-Palestine) - YES
Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas) - NO


EC Refusal Clause
Senator Deuell's amendment also includes a provision that prevents women who receive services as part of the waiver project from learning about or receiving emergency contraception (EC), because he believes that EC is an abortion pill.


This provision applies even if the provider learns that a woman came to the clinic because she was raped. Some Senators tried to remove this part of the amendment to ensure all women have access to EC, but the vote failed and the ban on EC remains in the Senate's version of the bill.


The supporters of this amendment seem to think that rape victims only go to an emergency room for treatment and therefore do not need to be told of EC if they go to a health clinic. Senator Deuell said, "in those cases, a patient can still have treatment and that conversation with a private physician or with an emergency room physician." Of course, in Texas there is no law that requires an emergency room doctor to tell a women about EC and, as research has shown, most don't. Because Senator Deuell incorrectly defines EC as an abortion pill, he is jeopardizing care to thousands of women who could otherwise receive services at a Planned Parenthood clinic.


Here is how North Texas Senators voted on an amendment to remove the EC ban. A "yes" vote is a vote to keep the EC ban in the bill and a "no" vote is a vote to remove the EC ban.


Sen. Kim Brimer (R-Ft. Worth) - YES
Sen. John Carona (R-Dallas) - YES
Sen. Bob Deuell (R-Greenville) - YES
Sen. Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler) - ABSENT
Sen. Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls) - YES
Sen. Chris Harris (R-Arlington) - YES
Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Lewisville) - YES
Sen. Florence Shapiro (R-Plano) - YES
Sen. Todd Staples (R-Palestine) - YES
Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas) - NO


SB 747 would direct the Texas Department of State Health Services to apply for a Medicaid Waiver for Women's Health Care. Such a waiver would expand Medicaid eligibility for family planning services for low-income women who are not currently eligible for family planning but who would be eligible for Medicaid prenatal care if they became pregnant. This waiver would not cover abortion services. The waiver would save the State an estimated $131 million dollars over five years.