BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2752

By: Raymond

Human Services

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised about the inability of a Medicaid recipient to select a licensed
speech-language pathologist to perform health care services covered under Medicaid.
C.S.H.B. 2752 seeks to address these concerns by allowing Medicaid recipients to select a licensed speech-language pathologist to perform a Medicaid-covered health care service, as authorized by law.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2752 amends the Human Resources Code to require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to assure that a Medicaid recipient may select a licensed speech-language pathologist to perform any health care service covered under Medicaid if the pathologist is authorized by law to perform the service. The bill requires HHSC to ensure that licensed
speech-language pathologists in private practice may enroll under Medicaid as independent practice providers or as a group practice provider composed of multiple speech-language pathologists, provided that each speech-language pathologist in the group practice is individually enrolled as a Medicaid provider, and to ensure that licensed speech-language pathologists in private practice, once enrolled as a Medicaid provider, may serve all Medicaid recipients without being limited to participation in the Texas health steps comprehensive care program. That requirement expressly does not authorize a provider to provide speech-language pathology services to recipients as home health services without an appropriate license. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 2752 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1.  Section 32.027, Human Resources Code, is amended.	SECTION 1. Same as introduced version.
SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, is amended by adding Section 32.081 to read as follows: Sec. 32.081.  PRIVATE PRACTICE SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS AS MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS.  The commission shall ensure that licensed speech-language pathologists, as defined by Section 401.001, Occupations Code, in private practice may: (1)  enroll under the medical assistance program as independent practice providers or as a group practice provider composed of multiple speech-language pathologists, provided that each speech-language pathologist in the group practice is individually enrolled as a medical assistance provider; and (2)  once enrolled as a medical assistance provider, serve all medical assistance recipients without being limited to participation in the Texas Health Steps Comprehensive Care Program.	SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, is amended by adding Section 32.081 to read as follows: Sec. 32.081.  PRIVATE PRACTICE SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS AS MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS.  (a)  The commission shall ensure that licensed speech-language pathologists, as defined by Section 401.001, Occupations Code, in private practice may: (1)  enroll under the medical assistance program as independent practice providers or as a group practice provider composed of multiple speech-language pathologists, provided that each speech-language pathologist in the group practice is individually enrolled as a medical assistance provider; and (2)  once enrolled as a medical assistance provider, serve all medical assistance recipients without being limited to participation in the Texas Health Steps Comprehensive Care Program. (b)  This section does not authorize a provider to provide speech-language pathology services to recipients as home health services without an appropriate license under Section 142.002, Health and Safety Code.
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 3. Same as introduced version.
SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.	SECTION 4. Same as introduced version.