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.