HB488 - Relating to Medicaid coverage and reimbursement for functional family therapy services.

  89R1443 SCF-D     By: Johnson H.B. No. 488       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to Medicaid coverage and reimbursement for functional   family therapy services.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,   is amended by adding Section 32.04261 to read as follows:           Sec.   32.04261.     REIMBURSEMENT FOR FUNCTIONAL FAMILY THERAPY   SERVICES. (a)   In this section:                 (1)     "At-risk youth"   means children who are at risk of   involvement with the child welfare system, the criminal justice   system, or the juvenile justice system.                 (2)     "Functional family therapy" means an intensive,   short-term, family-based therapeutic treatment program for at-risk   youth designed to improve family dynamics, communication, and   support by:                       (A)     addressing core causes of dysfunctional   behavior patterns;                       (B)  decreasing negativity in the household; and                       (C)     providing tools to improve parental skills   and relationships.           (b)     The commission shall ensure that medical assistance   reimbursement is provided to a provider who provides functional   family therapy services to a recipient under the medical assistance   program.          SECTION 2.  If before implementing any provision of this Act   a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a   federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,   the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or   authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the   waiver or authorization is granted.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.