85R8450 KFF-F
 
  By: Raymond H.B. No. 2752
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the participation of speech-language pathologists as
  providers under the Medicaid program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 32.027, Human Resources Code, is amended
  by adding Subsection (n) to read as follows:
         (n)  The commission shall assure that a recipient of medical
  assistance under this chapter may select a licensed speech-language
  pathologist, as defined by Section 401.001, Occupations Code, to
  perform any health care service covered under the medical
  assistance program if the pathologist is authorized by law to
  perform the service.
         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 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 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.