HB974 —

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 4 section(s) of the Texas statutes: Section 531.0216, Government Code, Section 531.02164, Government Code, Section 533, Government Code, Section 533.0061, Government Code.

• Section 531.0216, Government Code

  or a rural health clinic as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 1396d(l)(1) (k) No later than January 1, 2022, the commission shall implement reimbursement for telemedicine medical services and telehealth services in the following programs, services and benefits: (1) Children with Special Health Care Needs program, (2) Early Childhood Intervention, (3) School and Health Related Services, (4) physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, (5) targeted case management, (6) nutritional counseling services, (7) Texas Health Steps checkups, (8) Medicaid 1915(c)waiver programs, including the Community Living and Support Services waiver, and (9) any other program, benefit, or service under the commission's jurisdiction that the commissioner determines to be cost effective and clinically effective. (l) The commission shall implement audio-only benefits for behavioral health services, and may implement audio-only benefits in any program under the commission's jurisdiction, in accordance with federal and state law and shall consider other factors, including whether reimbursement is cost-effective and whether the provision of the service is clinically effective, in making the determination.

  amended

• Section 531.02164, Government Code

  (f) In complying with state and federal requirements to provide access to medically necessary services under the Medicaid managed care program, a Medicaid managed care organization may reimburse providers for home telemonitoring services not specifically defined in this section and shall consider other factors, including whether reimbursement is cost-effective and whether the provision of the service is clinically effective, in making the determination.

  amended

• Section 533, Government Code

  533.00252 DELIVERY OF TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES. (a) The commission shall implement policies and procedures to improve access to care through telemedicine, telehealth, tele-monitoring, and other telecommunication or information technology solutions. (b) To the extent authorized by federal law, the commission shall establish policies and procedures that allow managed care organizations to conduct assessment and service coordination activities for members receiving home and community-based services through telecommunication or information technology in the following circumstances: (1) when the managed care organization determines it appropriate; (2) the member requests activities occur through telecommunication or information technology; (3) when in-person activities are not feasible due to a natural disaster, pandemic, public health emergency; or (4) in other circumstances identified by the commission. (c) If assessment or service coordination activities are conducted through telecommunication or information technology, the managed care organization must: (1) monitor health care services provided to the member for fraud, waste, and abuse; and (2) determine the need for additional social services and supports. (d) Except as provided by Subsection (b)(3), a managed care organization must conduct the following activities for members receiving home and community-based services: (1) at least one in-person visit for the population that requires face to face visits as determined by HHSC; or (2) additional in-person visits as determined necessary by the managed care organization. (e) To the extent authorized by federal law, the commission must allow managed care members receiving assessments or service coordination through telecommunication or information technology to provide verbal authorizations in lieu of written signatures on all required forms.

  added

• Section 533.0061, Government Code

  and → , and (3) consider and include the availability of telemedicine and telehealth services within the provider network of a managed care organization.

  amended

• (c) The executive commissioner shall adopt and publish guidance that allows managed care plans that contract with the commission to communicate with their enrolled recipients via text message in accordance with this section. Such guidance shall include the development and implementation of standardized consent language to be used by managed care plans in obtaining patient consent to receive text messages. The guidance must be published no later than January 1, 2022.

  amended

Similar bills in other states

Bills in other jurisdictions that match this one by MEANING — title, summary and subject, compared across every state we track. A strong signal the same policy is moving elsewhere.

• HB 974 Maryland 87% Compare text
• HB 974 Tennessee 87% Compare text
• HB 974 Tennessee 87% Compare text