82R9630 RWG-F
By: Castro H.B. No. 2270
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to health benefit plan coverage for early childhood
intervention services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 1367.201, Insurance Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 1367.201. DEFINITION. In this subchapter,
rehabilitative and habilitative therapies include:
(1) occupational therapy evaluations and services;
(2) physical therapy evaluations and services;
(3) speech therapy evaluations and services; [and]
(4) dietary or nutritional evaluations and services;
(5) audiology;
(6) developmental services;
(7) early identification, screening, and assessment;
(8) family counseling;
(9) family education;
(10) nursing services;
(11) psychological services;
(12) service coordination;
(13) social work services;
(14) vision services; and
(15) assistive technology services and devices.
SECTION 2. Section 1367.205, Insurance Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as
follows:
(a) A health benefit plan must provide [that provides]
coverage for rehabilitative and habilitative therapies [under this
subchapter may not prohibit or restrict payment for covered
services] provided to a child and determined to be necessary to and
provided in accordance with an individualized family service plan
issued by the Interagency Council on Early Childhood Intervention
under Chapter 73, Human Resources Code.
(b-1) A health benefit plan may not prohibit or restrict
payment for covered services described by Subsection (a).
SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a health benefit plan that is delivered, issued for delivery, or
renewed on or after January 1, 2012. A health benefit plan that is
delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed before January 1, 2012,
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, 2011.