87R2491 JG-D
By: Blanco S.B. No. 1707
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to certain group health care benefits and the promotion of
telehealth services for certain persons who are eligible for
Medicaid or the child health plan program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 62, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 62.061 to read as follows:
Sec. 62.061. HEALTH SERVICES INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE
TELEHEALTH SERVICES. (a) In this section, "telehealth service"
has the meaning assigned by Section 111.001, Occupations Code.
(b) The commission shall develop and implement a health
services initiative designed to leverage federal money available
under the child health plan program under 42 U.S.C. Section
1397ee(a)(1)(D)(ii) to fund technology or infrastructure needed to
promote the availability and use of telehealth services for
providing health care benefits in a group setting to a child:
(1) who is 18 years of age or younger; and
(2) whose annual household income is equal to or less
than 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
(c) To the extent possible, the health services initiative
must be designed to identify children who are eligible for the child
health plan program and children who are eligible for the medical
assistance program under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code. The
commission may automatically enroll an identified child in the
child health plan program or the medical assistance program, as
applicable.
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,
is amended by adding Section 32.0248 to read as follows:
Sec. 32.0248. MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN GROUP HEALTH
CARE BENEFITS; ENHANCED REIMBURSEMENT. (a) The commission shall
provide medical assistance at an enhanced reimbursement rate for:
(1) prenatal care benefits provided to a recipient who
is pregnant in a group setting with other pregnant women; and
(2) health care benefits provided to a recipient who
is younger than two years of age in a group setting with other
children of the same age group.
(b) In providing medical assistance under Subsection
(a)(1), the commission shall ensure prenatal care benefits provided
by the following provider types are reimbursable:
(1) a federally qualified health center as defined by
42 U.S.C. Section 1396d(l)(2)(B);
(2) a rural health clinic as defined by 42 U.S.C.
Section 1396d(l)(1); and
(3) other facility-based providers.
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, 2021.