By: Thompson of Harris, et al. H.B. No. 1600

(Senate Sponsor - Watson)

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 20, 2017; May 8, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on Health & Human Services; May 17, 2017, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 17, 2017, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 1600 By: Watson

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to certain mental health screenings under the Texas Health Steps program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, is amended by adding Section 32.0249 to read as follows:

Sec. 32.0249. MENTAL HEALTH SCREENINGS IN TEXAS HEALTH STEPS PROGRAM. The executive commissioner, in the rules governing the Texas Health Steps program, shall allow a provider to:

(1) conduct a mental health screening using one or more validated, standardized mental health screening tools during each annual medical exam of a recipient who is at least 12 years of age but younger than 19 years of age; and

(2) be reimbursed for conducting one mental health screening using one or more validated, standardized mental health screening tools during each annual medical exam of a recipient described by Subdivision (1).

SECTION 2. 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. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.

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