Texas House bill by Rep. Hull mandates Medicaid provider types for community health workers and doulas

Passed bill authored by State Rep. Lacey Hull seeks to create distinct Medicaid provider types for community health workers and doulas, aiming to recognize lactation consultation and case management as reimbursable services, according to the Texas Legislature website.

In the House, 61 Democrats and 69 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while 16 Republicans opposed it.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 11 Democrats and 17 Republicans voted in favor, while three Republicans voted against it.

Lacey Hull introduced the bill in the Texas House on Tuesday, March 11, during the 89th regular legislative session.

Hull graduated from the University of Houston with a BS.

Hull, a Republican, was elected to the Texas State House in 2021 to represent the state’s 138th House district, replacing previous state representative Dwayne Bohac.

According to the Texas Legislature, the bill’s official text was summarized as follows: ‘Relating to Medicaid coverage and reimbursement for lactation consultation services’.

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, the bill mandates the establishment of distinct provider types under Medicaid for community health workers and doulas who offer lactation consultation or case management services for children and pregnant women. It requires the Texas commission to create a separate provider category for those certified in lactation consultation to facilitate enrollment and reimbursement under Medicaid. The bill emphasizes reimbursement for lactation consultation as a separately recognized service when provided by eligible certified professionals. Additionally, it allows state agencies to seek necessary federal waivers before implementing provisions, with the act set to take effect Sept. 1, 2025.

The bill was co-authored by Rep. Toni Rose (Democrat – District 110), Rep. Valoree Swanson (Republican – District 150), and Rep. Candy Noble (Republican – District 89), along with six other authors.

The bill received its final legislative approval on Thursday, May 8, and was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott on Saturday, May 24.

Bills in Texas go through a multi-step legislative process, including committee review, debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching a final decision. Each session, there are typically thousands of bills introduced, but only a portion successfully navigate the process to become law.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.