87R1420 JG-D
 
  By: Blanco S.B. No. 1915
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the provision of recovery community organization
  peer-to-peer services under Medicaid.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 531.09991 to read as follows:
         Sec. 531.09991.  RECOVERY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. (a) In
  this section, "recovery community organization" means a nonprofit
  organization that:
               (1)  mobilizes resources inside and outside of a local
  community to increase the prevalence and quality of long-term
  recovery for individuals with a substance use disorder and their
  family members; and
               (2)  is at least partly governed by individuals
  recovering from a substance use disorder or their family members.
         (b)  The executive commissioner, with input from the work
  group established under Subsection (c), shall adopt rules to
  provide Medicaid reimbursement for peer-to-peer services provided
  by recovery community organizations, which must include:
               (1)  rules that establish training requirements for
  recovery community organization peer-to-peer service providers;
               (2)  rules that establish certification and
  supervision requirements for recovery community organizations;
               (3)  rules that define the scope of peer-to-peer
  services that recovery community organizations may provide;
               (4)  rules that distinguish peer-to-peer services
  provided by recovery community organizations from other services
  that a person must hold a license to provide; and
               (5)  any other rules necessary to protect the health
  and safety of individuals receiving services provided by recovery
  community organizations.
         (c)  The executive commissioner shall establish a work group
  to provide input for the adoption of rules under Subsection (b).
  The work group is composed of at least 9 but not more than 13 members
  with expertise in substance use disorder recovery or recovery
  community organizations. The executive commissioner shall ensure
  that at least half of the work group members are from rural
  communities in this state.
         (d)  The executive commissioner shall appoint one work group
  member to serve as presiding officer.
         (e)  The work group is automatically abolished on the
  adoption of rules under Subsection (b).
         (f)  Subsections (c), (d), and (e) and this subsection expire
  September 1, 2023.
         SECTION 2.  Effective January 1, 2023, Section 32.024, Human
  Resources Code, is amended by adding Subsection (pp) to read as
  follows:
         (pp)  The commission in its rules and standards governing the
  scope of services provided under the medical assistance program
  shall include peer-to-peer services provided by recovery community
  organizations as defined by Section 531.09991, Government Code, to
  the extent permitted by federal law.
         SECTION 3.  Not later than December 31, 2021, the executive
  commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall
  establish the work group required by Section 531.09991, Government
  Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 4.  Not later than December 31, 2022, the executive
  commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall
  adopt the rules required by Section 531.09991, Government Code, as
  added by this Act.
         SECTION 5.  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 6.  Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.