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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the participation of speech-language pathologists as |
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providers under the Medicaid program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 32.027, Human Resources Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (n) to read as follows: |
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(n) The commission shall assure that a recipient of medical |
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assistance under this chapter may select a licensed speech-language |
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pathologist, as defined by Section 401.001, Occupations Code, to |
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perform any health care service covered under the medical |
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assistance program if the pathologist is authorized by law to |
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perform the service. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 32.081 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 32.081. PRIVATE PRACTICE SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS |
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AS MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS. (a) The commission shall ensure |
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that licensed speech-language pathologists, as defined by Section |
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401.001, Occupations Code, in private practice may: |
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(1) enroll under the medical assistance program as |
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independent practice providers or as a group practice provider |
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composed of multiple speech-language pathologists, provided that |
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each speech-language pathologist in the group practice is |
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individually enrolled as a medical assistance provider; and |
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(2) once enrolled as a medical assistance provider, |
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serve all medical assistance recipients without being limited to |
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participation in the Texas Health Steps Comprehensive Care Program. |
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(b) This section does not authorize a provider to provide |
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speech-language pathology services to recipients as home health |
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services without an appropriate license under Section 142.002, |
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Health and Safety Code. |
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SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
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a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
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federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
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the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
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authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
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waiver or authorization is granted. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |