By Maxey                                              H.B. No. 3365
         77R11551 JMM-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to medical case management services provided by a social
 1-3     worker under the Medicaid program.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Section 505.201, Occupations Code, is amended by
 1-6     adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
 1-7           (d)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the
 1-8     board shall adopt rules as necessary to permit a social worker to
 1-9     provide medical case management services under the medical
1-10     assistance program under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, to the
1-11     extent the program is administered by the department.  The board
1-12     may not adopt rules under this subsection that impede the
1-13     accessibility of medical case management services under that
1-14     program.  This subsection expires September 1, 2003.
1-15           SECTION 2. (a)  The Texas State Board of Social Worker
1-16     Examiners shall adopt rules under Section 505.201(d), Occupations
1-17     Code, as added by this Act, not later than the 120th day after the
1-18     effective date of this Act.
1-19           (b)  During the time in which the adoption of rules by the
1-20     Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners under Section
1-21     505.201(d), Occupations Code, as added by this Act, is pending, a
1-22     social worker, as defined by Section 505.002, Occupations Code, is
1-23     permitted to provide medical case management services under the
1-24     medical assistance program under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,
 2-1     to the extent the program is administered by the department.
 2-2           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
 2-3     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
 2-4     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
 2-5     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
 2-6     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.