Amend HB 2174 (senate committee printing) by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTION to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:

SECTION ____.  (a)  In this section, "qualifying practitioner" has the meaning assigned by 21 U.S.C. Section 823(g)(2)(G)(iii).

(b)  Not later than November 1, 2019, the Health and Human Services Commission shall amend the commission's Medicaid Substance Use Disorder Services Medical Policy and any other provider or claims payment policy or manual necessary to authorize Medicaid medical benefits reimbursement for the prescribing of buprenorphine for the treatment of an opioid use disorder by an advanced practice registered nurse recognized by the Texas Board of Nursing as a clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist, or nurse midwife, provided that the advanced practice registered nurse:

(1)  is a qualifying practitioner;

(2)  has obtained a waiver from registration requirements as provided by 21 U.S.C. Section 823(g); and

(3)  is acting under adequate physician supervision and a physician's delegation under Section 157.0512 or 157.054, Occupations Code.