| 1 | 1 | | S.B. No. 1291 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | AN ACT |
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| 5 | 5 | | relating to access to certain counselors and therapists. |
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| 6 | 6 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 7 | 7 | | SECTION 1. Section 1451.114, Insurance Code, is amended to |
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| 8 | 8 | | read as follows: |
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| 9 | 9 | | Sec. 1451.114. SELECTION OF LICENSED PROFESSIONAL |
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| 10 | 10 | | COUNSELOR. [(a)] An insured may select a licensed professional |
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| 11 | 11 | | counselor to provide the services scheduled in the health insurance |
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| 12 | 12 | | policy that are within the scope of the counselor's license. |
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| 13 | 13 | | [(b) The health insurance policy may require that services |
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| 14 | 14 | | of a licensed professional counselor must be recommended by a |
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| 15 | 15 | | physician.] |
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| 16 | 16 | | SECTION 2. Section 1451.116, Insurance Code, is amended to |
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| 17 | 17 | | read as follows: |
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| 18 | 18 | | Sec. 1451.116. SELECTION OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST. |
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| 19 | 19 | | [(a)] An insured may select a marriage and family therapist to |
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| 20 | 20 | | provide the services scheduled in the health insurance policy that |
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| 21 | 21 | | are within the scope of the therapist's license. |
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| 22 | 22 | | [(b) The health insurance policy may require that services |
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| 23 | 23 | | of a marriage and family therapist must be recommended by a |
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| 24 | 24 | | physician.] |
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| 25 | 25 | | SECTION 3. This Act applies only to an insurance policy or |
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| 26 | 26 | | contract or evidence of coverage that is delivered, issued for |
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| 27 | 27 | | delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2010. An insurance |
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| 28 | 28 | | policy or contract or evidence of coverage delivered, issued for |
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| 29 | 29 | | delivery, or renewed before January 1, 2010, is governed by the law |
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| 30 | 30 | | as it existed immediately before the effective date of this Act, and |
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| 31 | 31 | | that law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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| 32 | 32 | | SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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| 33 | 33 | | ______________________________ ______________________________ |
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| 34 | 34 | | President of the Senate Speaker of the House |
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| 35 | 35 | | I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1291 passed the Senate on |
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| 36 | 36 | | April 23, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. |
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| 37 | 37 | | ______________________________ |
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| 38 | 38 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 39 | 39 | | I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1291 passed the House on |
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| 40 | 40 | | May 19, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 145, Nays 0, one |
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| 41 | 41 | | present not voting. |
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| 42 | 42 | | ______________________________ |
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| 43 | 43 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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| 44 | 44 | | Approved: |
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| 45 | 45 | | ______________________________ |
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| 46 | 46 | | Date |
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| 47 | 47 | | ______________________________ |
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| 48 | 48 | | Governor |
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