HBA-MPM, NMO H.B. 2304 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2304 By: Coleman Public Health 7/19/1999 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Prior to the 76th State Legislature, psychologists, social workers, and licensed professional counselors were eligible to receive Medicaid reimbursement for the provision of family counseling services, however, licensed marriage and family therapists were not eligible for Medicaid reimbursement. H.B. 2304 requires the Health and Human Services Commission or an agency operating part of the medical assistance program, as appropriate, to assure that a recipient of medical assistance is authorized to select a licensed marriage and family therapist to perform any health care service or procedure covered under the medical assistance program if the selected therapist is authorized by law to perform the service or procedure. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 32.027(e), Human Resources Code, to require the Health and Human Services Commission or any agency operating part of the medical assistance program, as appropriate, to assure that a recipient of medical assistance under this chapter is authorized to select a licensed marriage and family therapist to perform any health care service or procedure covered under the medical assistance program if that therapist is authorized by law to perform the service or procedure. SECTION 2. Requires a state agency, if before implementing any provision of this Act it determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, to request the waiver or authorization and authorizes the state agency to delay implementing that provision until the waiver or authorization is granted. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.