85R8450 KFF-F
By: Raymond H.B. No. 2752
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the participation of speech-language pathologists as
providers under the Medicaid program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 32.027, Human Resources Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (n) to read as follows:
(n) The commission shall assure that a recipient of medical
assistance under this chapter may select a licensed speech-language
pathologist, as defined by Section 401.001, Occupations Code, to
perform any health care service covered under the medical
assistance program if the pathologist is authorized by law to
perform the service.
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,
is amended by adding Section 32.081 to read as follows:
Sec. 32.081. PRIVATE PRACTICE SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS
AS MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS. The commission shall ensure that
licensed speech-language pathologists, as defined by Section
401.001, Occupations Code, in private practice may:
(1) enroll under the medical assistance program as
independent practice providers or as a group practice provider
composed of multiple speech-language pathologists, provided that
each speech-language pathologist in the group practice is
individually enrolled as a medical assistance provider; and
(2) once enrolled as a medical assistance provider,
serve all medical assistance recipients without being limited to
participation in the Texas Health Steps Comprehensive Care Program.
SECTION 3. 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 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.