Texas’ struggle with maternal mortality is not new, however the Legislature made a big step toward addressing its abysmal record when the House Committee on Human Services passed HB 133 out of committee.
HB 133 by Rep. Toni Rose (D-Dallas) extends Medicaid coverage for new mothers to 12 months postpartum.
Currently, new Texas mothers who qualify for Medicaid are kicked off the program 60 days postpartum, and 31 percent of pregnancy-related deaths occur after giving birth. More than half those deaths occur after 60 days with 90 percent of the deaths being preventable.
A Centers of Disease Control report found that Texas ranks 13th in the nation when it comes to total pregnancy mortality, and more people die in Texas after giving birth than any other state.
