WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 3735

Relating to health benefit plan coverage for prenatal care, childbirth, and postnatal care provided in a hospital, birthing center, or home setting.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Cas Garcia Hernandez and 10 co-sponsors

Texas bill requires health insurers to cover prenatal, childbirth, and postnatal care equally in hospitals, birthing centers, and home settings, expanding patient choice options.

Referred to Insurance
#health--otherdiseases&medicalconditions(i0383) #insurance--health&accident(i0422) #pregnancy&childbirth(s0294) #women(i0925)
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 3735

Legislative bill overview

HB 3735 would require health benefit plans in Texas to cover prenatal care, childbirth, and postnatal care across three settings: traditional hospitals, birthing centers, and home births. The bill standardizes insurance coverage requirements regardless of where a patient chooses to deliver, ensuring parity in benefits across these delivery options.

Why is this important

This bill addresses insurance coverage gaps that may incentivize or restrict where Texans can give birth based on what their health plan covers rather than medical preference or safety considerations. It could expand access to alternative birthing options for patients whose insurance currently covers only hospital births, while also affecting healthcare costs and insurance premium structures.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost implications: Expanding coverage to home and birthing center births may increase overall health insurance costs, potentially raising premiums for all enrollees or creating budget pressures for insurers and employers
  • Safety and liability standards: Home births and birthing centers operate under different regulatory frameworks than hospitals; the bill may lack clarity on what safety standards or provider qualifications are required for coverage
  • Competitive impact on providers: Hospital-based maternity services may lose revenue if patients shift to covered alternatives, potentially affecting hospital financial sustainability and service availability in rural areas

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.