HB 136

"✅ HB 136 – A Quiet Win for Mothers on Medicaid, But Watch the Fine Print

This one didn’t get much attention, but it should’ve.

HB 136 adds something new to the Medicaid program in Texas: lactation consultation services. That means certified specialists who help new mothers breastfeed can finally get reimbursed when working with low-income families.

Sounds small—but it matters.

Here’s what the bill actually does:
✔️ Requires the state’s Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to reimburse certified lactation consultants
✔️ Creates a new “provider type” so consultants can enroll in Medicaid and get paid directly
✔️ Applies statewide—not just in big cities
✔️ Starts September 2025, once federal approvals are cleared

Why it matters:
In Texas, if you're on Medicaid and struggling to breastfeed, your support options are limited. WIC helps, but it doesn’t always connect you with trained consultants. Hospitals often offer support for a few hours, then you’re on your own.

This bill changes that. It makes breastfeeding support a Medicaid benefit—not a luxury.

And that means:
✅ Better infant health outcomes
✅ Lower long-term medical costs
✅ Less reliance on formula, especially in areas hit hard by shortages
✅ Support for working moms who want to keep breastfeeding but face hurdles

But let’s be real: it’s not perfect.

There’s no requirement for HHSC to publicly report how the benefit is being used. No mandate to track whether it’s reaching rural moms or underserved areas. And HHSC gets to decide which certification programs count—without much transparency.

So the state could approve a narrow set of programs, limit who qualifies, or delay the rollout quietly behind closed doors.

And who’s missing from the final version?
Doulas and community health workers were originally included. By the time it passed, that language was gone. Hospitals and managed care groups supported the bill—but some advocates wanted it to go further.

Still, HB 136 is a meaningful step. It says that maternal care matters. It says that feeding your baby shouldn’t depend on what ZIP code you live in.

It’s not a flashy bill. But it’s a structural win—especially if the follow-through matches the promise.

Let’s make sure it does.

✅ #HB136 #TexasMedicaid #MaternalHealth #LactationSupport #PolicyThatMatters

Quick ask, y’all—likes help the algorithm, but shares are what get the truth out.

If this bill affects you, your kids, your patients, your neighbors—please share it.

Too many Texans don’t know what’s being signed into law. And if we don’t share it, they won’t hear it. These bills move quietly. The consequences don’t.

It’s not about going viral. It’s about making sure the people who need to know—do know.

So if this post made you pause, think, or get fired up… don’t just like it. Send it. Share it. Say something.

We don’t get transparency unless we demand it together."