SRC-TBR, H.B. 3365 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 3365 77R11551 JMM-FBy: Maxey (Zaffirini) Health & Human Services 4/29/2001 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Texas Health Steps (THSteps) is the largest and most comprehensive medical and dental prevention and treatment program for children of low income families. Many social workers who currently provide THSteps medical case management services (services) will no longer be permitted to provide these services. The reason for this is that THSteps services meet the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners' (board) definition for "private and independent practice" that can only be provided by Licensed Master Social Worker Advanced Practitioners (LMSW-APs) and Licensed Master Social WorkerAdvanced Clinical Practitioners (LMSW-ACPs). Unfortunately, few LMSW-APs or LSMWACPs have enrolled as providers for THSteps services. Consequently, many children are in jeopardy of losing important health and developmental services. H.B. 3365 requires the board to adopt rules necessary to permit social workers to provide case management services in the THSteps program. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners in SECTION 1 (Section 505.201, Occupations Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 505.201, Occupations Code, by adding Subsection (d) to require the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners (board) to adopt rules as necessary to permit a social worker to provide medical case management services (services) under the medical assistance program under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, to the extent the program is administered by the Texas Department of Health (TDH). Prohibits the board from adopting rules that impede the accessibility of medical case management services under the medical assistance program. Provides that this Subsection expires September 1, 2003. SECTION 2. (a) Requires the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners to adopt rules under Section 505.201 (d), Occupations Code, as added by this Act, by the 120th day after the effective date of this Act. (b) Authorizes a social worker, as defined by Section 505.002, Occupations Code, to provide medical case management services under the medical assistance program under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, during the time in which the adoption of rules by the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners under Section 505.201 (d), Occupations Code, as added by this Act is pending, to the extent the program is administered by the department. SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.