88R6661 MEW/BEE-D
 
  By: Shaheen H.B. No. 1390
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to telemedicine medical services and telehealth services
  covered by certain health benefit plans or provided by a
  pharmacist.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 1455.001(1-a), Insurance Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
               (1-a)  "Health professional" means:
                     (A)  a physician;
                     (B)  an individual who is:
                           (i)  licensed or certified in this state to
  perform health care services; and
                           (ii)  authorized to assist:
                                 (a)  a physician in providing
  telemedicine medical services that are delegated and supervised by
  the physician; or
                                 (b)  a dentist in providing
  teledentistry dental services that are delegated and supervised by
  the dentist;
                     (C)  a licensed or certified health professional,
  including a mental health professional, acting within the scope of
  the license or certification who does not perform a telemedicine
  medical service or a teledentistry dental service; [or]
                     (D)  a dentist; or
                     (E)  an individual who is credentialed to provide
  qualified mental health professional community services, has
  demonstrated and documented competency in the work to be performed,
  and:
                           (i)  holds a bachelor's or more advanced
  degree from an accredited institution of higher education with a
  minimum number of hours that is equivalent to a major in psychology,
  social work, medicine, nursing, rehabilitation, counseling,
  sociology, human growth and development, physician assistant
  studies, gerontology, special education, educational psychology,
  early childhood education, or early childhood intervention;
                           (ii)  is a registered nurse; or
                           (iii)  completes an alternative
  credentialing process identified by the Health and Human Services
  Commission.
         SECTION 2.  Section 554.005, Occupations Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
         (d)  In implementing Subsection (a)(3)(C)(iv), the board may
  not require the in-person counseling of patients.
         SECTION 3.  Chapter 1455, Insurance Code, as amended by this
  Act, applies only to a health benefit plan delivered, issued for
  delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2024. A health benefit
  plan delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed before January 1,
  2024, is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the
  effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for
  that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.