87R2363 KKR-D
 
  By: Moody H.B. No. 706
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the provision of counseling services by certain
  providers under Medicaid and reimbursement for those services.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 32.027, Human Resources Code, is amended
  by amending Subsection (l) and adding Subsection (m) to read as
  follows:
         (l)  Subject to appropriations, the commission shall assure
  that a recipient of medical assistance under this chapter may
  select a licensed psychologist, a licensed marriage and family
  therapist, as defined by Section 502.002, Occupations Code, a
  licensed professional counselor, as defined by Section 503.002,
  Occupations Code, or a licensed clinical [master] social worker, as
  defined by Section 505.002, Occupations Code, to perform any health
  care service or procedure covered under the medical assistance
  program if the selected person is authorized by law to perform the
  service or procedure. This subsection shall be liberally
  construed.
         (m)  The commission shall assure that a recipient of medical
  assistance under this chapter may select the following to perform
  any health care service or procedure covered under the medical
  assistance program if the selected person is licensed and
  authorized by law to perform the service or procedure:
               (1)  a licensed marriage and family therapist
  associate, as defined by Section 502.002, Occupations Code, who is
  working toward fulfilling the supervised practice requirements to
  be licensed as a licensed marriage and family therapist, as defined
  by that section;
               (2)  a licensed master social worker, as defined by
  Section 505.002, Occupations Code, who is actively pursuing the
  education and training required to be licensed as a licensed
  clinical social worker, as defined by that section; or
               (3)  a licensed professional counselor intern, as
  described by 22 T.A.C. Chapter 681, who is working toward
  fulfilling the supervised practice requirements to be licensed as a
  licensed professional counselor, as defined by Section 503.002,
  Occupations Code.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,
  is amended by adding Section 32.079 to read as follows:
         Sec. 32.079.  REIMBURSEMENT FOR CERTAIN COUNSELING
  SERVICES. (a)  The commission shall provide reimbursement under
  the medical assistance program to a provider described by Section
  32.027(l) who is a licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed
  professional counselor, or licensed clinical social worker, is
  selected by a recipient of medical assistance, and provides
  counseling services covered under the medical assistance program
  that the provider is authorized by law to perform. The commission
  shall ensure that the provider is reimbursed at a rate equal to the
  reimbursement rate established for a licensed psychiatrist or
  licensed psychologist for providing similar services.
         (b)  The commission shall provide reimbursement under the
  medical assistance program to a provider described by Section
  32.027(m) who is selected by a recipient of medical assistance and
  who provides counseling services covered under the medical
  assistance program that the provider is authorized by law to
  perform. The commission shall ensure that the provider is
  reimbursed at a rate equal to 70 percent of the reimbursement rate
  established for a licensed psychiatrist or licensed psychologist
  for providing similar services.
         (c)  This section shall be liberally construed.
         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, 2021.