HB 1782, Hse 2nd Rdg, Amnd #2

Amend HB 1782 by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTION to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:

SECTION ____. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 531.02166 to read as follows:

Sec. 531.02166. INTERPROFESSIONAL INTERNET CONSULTATIONS PILOT PROGRAM. (a) Not later than September 1, 2021, and subject to Subsection (e), the commission shall develop and implement a pilot program through which the commission provides or contracts with a third party to provide technical assistance to train Medicaid providers regarding the use of interprofessional Internet consultations for Medicaid recipients in rural and medically underserved areas. The program must be designed to determine whether the use of technology improves access to specialty care, including pediatric, prenatal, postnatal, and behavioral health services, for Medicaid recipients.

(b) The commission shall:

(1) implement the pilot program in:

(i) federally qualified health center;

(ii) municipal public health system;

(iii) clinic that is a member of a nonprofit membership association that supports charitable clinics in this state; and

(iv) rural community center; and

(B) a maximum of 20 health clinics; and

(2) ensure that a third party contracted to provide technical assistance described under Subsection (a):

(A) has significant experience integrating telehealth services, telemedicine medical services, and online consultations with electronic health records; and

(B) has a current contract with the United States Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration as a regional telehealth resource center.

(c) The commission shall examine cost avoidance that results from providing telemedicine medical services to Medicaid recipients in rural and medically underserved communities through the pilot program, including cost avoidance that results from:

(1) reducing recipient wait times for specialty care providers;

(2) improving access to specialty care;

(3) reducing the number of recipient referrals; and

(4) reducing the number of miles traveled by recipients for specialty care consultations.

(d) Not later than December 31, 2022, the commission shall report to the legislature regarding the status and results of the pilot program and make recommendations regarding whether to continue, expand, or terminate the program.

(e) The commission is required to implement this section only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the commission may, but is not required to, implement this section using other appropriations available for that purpose.