🟡Relating to the continuation of the maternal opioid misuse model of care for certain Medicaid recipients
HB 5155
🟡 HB 5155: Extends maternal opioid care but weakens oversight
What it says it does:
HB 5155 continues the “Maternal Opioid Misuse” model of care for pregnant women on Medicaid who struggle with opioid addiction. It lets the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) keep the program running through 2029 using available funds.
What it actually changes:
The final law makes the program optional. HHSC must continue only if the Legislature provides funding. If not, it can choose whether to operate it at all. It also allows opioid settlement funds to be used and removes earlier reporting and oversight requirements from the bill.
Who is pushing for it:
Support came from the Texas Hospital Association, Texas Medical Association, NAMI Texas, Texas Association of Health Plans, Methodist Healthcare Ministries, and the Texas Women’s Healthcare Coalition. These groups backed the bill as a way to sustain care models they helped pilot.
Who benefits:
Hospitals, medical providers, and insurers gain steady Medicaid reimbursement and predictable program design. HHSC gains control over when and how the program runs. Women and infants in treatment programs benefit where HHSC keeps the model active.
Who gets left out or exposed:
The public loses transparency since HHSC no longer has to report outcomes. Local opioid abatement councils lose their role in prioritizing funds. Rural areas could lose access if HHSC chooses not to operate the model when funding is low.
Why this matters long term:
HB 5155 keeps vital maternal care alive but shifts control from public oversight to agency discretion. Once federal or settlement funding changes, HHSC can quietly reduce services or funding without a formal legislative vote.
What to watch next:
Whether HHSC uses opioid settlement funds for this program and whether lawmakers restore reporting or public updates in the next session. Texans should ask how many mothers and infants are actually being served.
Bottom line:
HB 5155 is a cautious step forward with weak safeguards. It protects a program that saves lives but also hides its performance and accountability behind HHSC’s discretion. Texans should keep an eye on how this funding and data are managed through 2029.