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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain group health care benefits and the promotion of |
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telehealth services for certain persons who are eligible for |
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Medicaid or the child health plan program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 62, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 62.061 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 62.061. HEALTH SERVICES INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE |
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TELEHEALTH SERVICES. (a) In this section, "telehealth service" |
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has the meaning assigned by Section 111.001, Occupations Code. |
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(b) The commission shall develop and implement a health |
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services initiative designed to leverage federal money available |
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under the child health plan program under 42 U.S.C. Section |
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1397ee(a)(1)(D)(ii) to fund technology or infrastructure needed to |
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promote the availability and use of telehealth services for |
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providing health care benefits in a group setting to a child: |
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(1) who is 18 years of age or younger; and |
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(2) whose annual household income is equal to or less |
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than 200 percent of the federal poverty level. |
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(c) To the extent possible, the health services initiative |
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must be designed to identify children who are eligible for the child |
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health plan program and children who are eligible for the medical |
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assistance program under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code. The |
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commission may automatically enroll an identified child in the |
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child health plan program or the medical assistance program, as |
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applicable. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 32.0248 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 32.0248. MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN GROUP HEALTH |
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CARE BENEFITS; ENHANCED REIMBURSEMENT. (a) The commission shall |
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provide medical assistance at an enhanced reimbursement rate for: |
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(1) prenatal care benefits provided to a recipient who |
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is pregnant in a group setting with other pregnant women; and |
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(2) health care benefits provided to a recipient who |
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is younger than two years of age in a group setting with other |
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children of the same age group. |
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(b) In providing medical assistance under Subsection |
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(a)(1), the commission shall ensure prenatal care benefits provided |
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by the following provider types are reimbursable: |
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(1) a federally qualified health center as defined by |
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42 U.S.C. Section 1396d(l)(2)(B); |
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(2) a rural health clinic as defined by 42 U.S.C. |
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Section 1396d(l)(1); and |
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(3) other facility-based providers. |
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SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
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a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
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federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
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the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
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authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
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waiver or authorization is granted. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |