85R4592 MM-F
 
  By: Buckingham S.B. No. 922
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the reimbursement of certain providers under the
  Medicaid program for the provision of telehealth services.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 531.02171 to read as follows:
         Sec. 531.02171.  REIMBURSEMENT FOR CERTAIN TELEHEALTH
  SERVICES.  (a)  In this section, "health professional" has the
  meaning assigned by Section 531.0217.
         (b)  The commission shall ensure that Medicaid reimbursement
  is provided to a school district or open-enrollment charter school
  for telehealth services provided through the school district or
  charter school by a health professional, even if the health
  professional is not the patient's primary care physician or
  provider, if:
               (1)  the school district or charter school is an
  authorized health care provider under Medicaid;
               (2)  the parent or legal guardian of the patient
  provides consent before the service is provided; and
               (3)  another health professional is present with the
  patient during the provision of the service.
         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.