HB1716 - Relating to the provision of counseling services by certain providers under Medicaid and reimbursement for those services.

  89R493 KKR-F     By: Darby, Manuel, Noble, Moody H.B. No. 1716       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the provision of counseling services by certain   providers under Medicaid and reimbursement for those services.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 32.027, Human Resources Code, is amended   by amending Subsection (l) and adding Subsection (m) to read as   follows:          (l)  Subject to appropriations, the commission shall assure   that a recipient of medical assistance under this chapter may   select a licensed psychologist, a licensed marriage and family   therapist, as defined by Section 502.002, Occupations Code, a   licensed professional counselor, as defined by Section 503.002,   Occupations Code, or a licensed clinical  [ master ] social worker, as   defined by Section 505.002, Occupations Code, to perform any health   care service or procedure covered under the medical assistance   program if the selected person is authorized by law to perform the   service or procedure. This subsection shall be liberally   construed.           (m)     The commission shall assure that a recipient of medical   assistance under this chapter may select the following to perform   any health care service or procedure covered under the medical   assistance program, including a service or procedure performed at a   federally qualified health center as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section   1396d(l)(2)(B), if the selected person is licensed and authorized   by law to perform the service or procedure:                 (1)     a licensed marriage and family therapist   associate, as defined by Section 502.002, Occupations Code, who is   working toward fulfilling the supervised practice requirements to   be licensed as a licensed marriage and family therapist, as defined   by that section;                 (2)     a licensed master social worker, as defined by   Section 505.002, Occupations Code, who is actively pursuing the   education and training required to be licensed as a licensed   clinical social worker, as defined by that section; or                 (3)     a licensed professional counselor associate, as   described by 22 T.A.C. Chapter 681, who is working toward   fulfilling the supervised practice requirements to be licensed as a   licensed professional counselor, as defined by Section 503.002,   Occupations Code.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,   is amended by adding Section 32.079 to read as follows:           Sec.   32.079.     REIMBURSEMENT FOR CERTAIN COUNSELING   SERVICES. (a)   Subject to Subsection (b), the commission shall   provide reimbursement under the medical assistance program to a   provider described by Section 32.027(m) who is selected by a   recipient of medical assistance and who provides a service or   procedure covered under the medical assistance program that the   provider is authorized by law to perform. The commission shall   ensure that the provider is reimbursed at a rate equal to 50 percent   of the reimbursement rate established for a licensed psychiatrist   or licensed psychologist for providing similar services.           (b)     The commission shall ensure that reimbursement provided   to a provider under Subsection (a) is limited to not more than 3,000   hours or, if applicable, the number of hours of clinical practice or   other experience the provider is required to complete to qualify   for the applicable license.           (c)  This section shall be liberally construed.          SECTION 3.  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 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.