87R1420 JG-D
By: Blanco S.B. No. 1915
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the provision of recovery community organization
peer-to-peer services under Medicaid.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 531.09991 to read as follows:
Sec. 531.09991. RECOVERY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. (a) In
this section, "recovery community organization" means a nonprofit
organization that:
(1) mobilizes resources inside and outside of a local
community to increase the prevalence and quality of long-term
recovery for individuals with a substance use disorder and their
family members; and
(2) is at least partly governed by individuals
recovering from a substance use disorder or their family members.
(b) The executive commissioner, with input from the work
group established under Subsection (c), shall adopt rules to
provide Medicaid reimbursement for peer-to-peer services provided
by recovery community organizations, which must include:
(1) rules that establish training requirements for
recovery community organization peer-to-peer service providers;
(2) rules that establish certification and
supervision requirements for recovery community organizations;
(3) rules that define the scope of peer-to-peer
services that recovery community organizations may provide;
(4) rules that distinguish peer-to-peer services
provided by recovery community organizations from other services
that a person must hold a license to provide; and
(5) any other rules necessary to protect the health
and safety of individuals receiving services provided by recovery
community organizations.
(c) The executive commissioner shall establish a work group
to provide input for the adoption of rules under Subsection (b).
The work group is composed of at least 9 but not more than 13 members
with expertise in substance use disorder recovery or recovery
community organizations. The executive commissioner shall ensure
that at least half of the work group members are from rural
communities in this state.
(d) The executive commissioner shall appoint one work group
member to serve as presiding officer.
(e) The work group is automatically abolished on the
adoption of rules under Subsection (b).
(f) Subsections (c), (d), and (e) and this subsection expire
September 1, 2023.
SECTION 2. Effective January 1, 2023, Section 32.024, Human
Resources Code, is amended by adding Subsection (pp) to read as
follows:
(pp) The commission in its rules and standards governing the
scope of services provided under the medical assistance program
shall include peer-to-peer services provided by recovery community
organizations as defined by Section 531.09991, Government Code, to
the extent permitted by federal law.
SECTION 3. Not later than December 31, 2021, the executive
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall
establish the work group required by Section 531.09991, Government
Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 4. Not later than December 31, 2022, the executive
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall
adopt the rules required by Section 531.09991, Government Code, as
added by this Act.
SECTION 5. 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 6. Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2021.