| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to a study on the provision of applied behavior analysis |
|
|
services to children with autism under Medicaid and other public |
|
|
benefits programs. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. (a) In this Act: |
|
|
(1) "Applied behavior analysis" means the practice |
|
|
described by Section 506.003, Occupations Code. |
|
|
(2) "Child health plan program" means the child health |
|
|
plan program established under Chapters 62 and 63, Health and |
|
|
Safety Code. |
|
|
(3) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services |
|
|
Commission. |
|
|
(4) "Medicaid" means the medical assistance program |
|
|
established under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code. |
|
|
SECTION 2. STUDY: COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS ON PROVISION OF |
|
|
APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS SERVICES UNDER MEDICAID AND OTHER |
|
|
PROGRAMS. (a) The commission shall conduct a cost-benefit analysis |
|
|
comparing the cost to the state of providing applied behavior |
|
|
analysis services to children with autism compared with the |
|
|
effectiveness of the services in treating children with autism. The |
|
|
study must: |
|
|
(1) determine the cost of applied behavior analysis |
|
|
services across all public benefits programs, including Medicaid, |
|
|
the child health plan program, and other health and human services |
|
|
programs; and |
|
|
(2) determine the efficacy of applied behavior |
|
|
analysis services provided to children with autism. |
|
|
(b) In conducting the study required by this section, the |
|
|
commission shall consult with all relevant state agencies that |
|
|
administer or operate a public benefits program to obtain all |
|
|
information necessary to conduct the study. |
|
|
SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than September 1, 2022, the |
|
|
commission shall prepare and submit a report on the findings of the |
|
|
study conducted under Section 2 of this Act to the governor, the |
|
|
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, |
|
|
and the standing committees of the senate and house of |
|
|
representatives having jurisdiction over health and human |
|
|
services. |
|
|
SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires September 1, 2023. |
|
|
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
|
|
1, 2021. |