89R15860 BEE/KKR/SCF-D
By: Cook, Johnson, Zaffirini S.B. No. 2886
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the regulation of child life services and the coverage
of child life services under Medicaid and health benefit plans;
requiring an occupational license; authorizing a fee.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle I, Title 3, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 508 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 508. CHILD LIFE SERVICES
Sec. 508.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Child life services" means the psychosocial
support provided to pediatric patients and to the children of
seriously ill adult patients by helping improve a child's coping
skills, aiding in the development of holistic pain management and
other symptom management strategies, and improving the overall
patient experience.
(2) "Child life specialist" means an individual
licensed under this chapter to provide child life services.
(3) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of state
health services.
(4) "Department" means the Department of State Health
Services.
(5) "Executive commissioner" means the executive
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.
Sec. 508.002. LICENSE REQUIRED. A person may not offer or
provide child life services unless the person holds a child life
specialist license issued under this chapter.
Sec. 508.003. LICENSE APPLICATION AND ISSUANCE; FEE. (a)
An applicant for a license under this chapter shall submit to the
executive commissioner, in the form and manner prescribed by rule
by the executive commissioner, an application for a license to
provide child life services under this chapter.
(b) The executive commissioner by rule shall set the amount
of an application fee.
(c) The department shall issue a license under this chapter
to a person who:
(1) is at least 18 years of age; and
(2) submits:
(A) a completed application under Subsection
(a);
(B) the fee required under Section 508.004; and
(C) any other information the executive
commissioner requires by rule.
Sec. 508.004. LICENSE FEE. The fee for a license under this
chapter is $120.
Sec. 508.005. LICENSE TERM. The executive commissioner by
rule shall establish the term of a license issued under this
chapter.
Sec. 508.006. PRACTICE SETTING AND CLIENT POPULATION
CERTIFICATIONS; FEES. (a) Subject to Subsection (b), the
department may issue to the holder of a license issued under this
chapter a certification for the practice of child life services in a
practice setting or with a client population not authorized by a
license issued under this chapter. A certification issued under
this section expires at the same time as the license held by the
certification holder.
(b) The holder of a license issued under this chapter is
eligible for a certification if the license holder:
(1) submits:
(A) the fee required under this section; and
(B) any other information the executive
commissioner requires by rule; and
(2) satisfies eligibility requirements the executive
commissioner establishes by rule.
(c) The eligibility requirements the executive commissioner
establishes by rule under Subsection (b)(2) must include the
applicant's successful completion of at least 12 units of
continuing education as approved by the commission in the subject
area of the certification.
(d) The commission may issue a certification in the
following practice setting and client population specializations:
(1) supportive palliative care and hospice for
pediatric patients;
(2) supportive palliative care and hospice for
children of adult patients;
(3) neurodiverse populations;
(4) trauma-informed care;
(5) grief and bereavement;
(6) facility animal handler;
(7) disaster relief;
(8) critical care;
(9) hematology and oncology;
(10) community-based services; and
(11) any other specialization the commission
considers to be specific to and within the scope of child life.
(e) The fee for a certification issued under this chapter is
$90.
Sec. 508.007. LICENSE OR CERTIFICATION RENEWAL; RENEWAL
FEE. (a) The executive commissioner by rule shall prescribe
requirements for the renewal of a license or certification issued
under this chapter.
(b) The fee for the renewal of:
(1) a license issued under this chapter is $90; and
(2) a certification issued under this chapter is $70.
Sec. 508.008. PRACTICE BY LICENSE HOLDER. The executive
commissioner by rule shall prescribe standards for the provision of
child life services.
Sec. 508.009. ENFORCEMENT. A person who violates this
chapter or a rule adopted under this chapter is subject to
disciplinary action by the commission.
Sec. 508.010. RULES. The executive commissioner shall
adopt the rules necessary to implement and enforce this chapter.
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,
is amended by adding Section 32.0318 to read as follows:
Sec. 32.0318. REIMBURSEMENT FOR CHILD LIFE SERVICES. (a)
In this section:
(1) "Child life services" and "child life specialist"
have the meanings assigned by Section 508.001, Occupations Code.
(2) "Recipient" means a recipient of medical
assistance.
(b) The commission shall:
(1) ensure that medical assistance reimbursement is
provided to a child life specialist who provides child life
services to a recipient; and
(2) establish a separate provider type for child life
specialists for purposes of enrollment as a provider for and
reimbursement under the medical assistance program.
(c) Child life services provided to a recipient may be
provided in an in-person setting or remotely as a telehealth
service or telemedicine medical service.
(d) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary
to implement this section.
SECTION 3. Chapter 1367, Insurance Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter G to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER G. CHILD LIFE SERVICES
Sec. 1367.301. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "child life
services" has the meaning assigned by Section 508.001, Occupations
Code.
Sec. 1367.302. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. (a) This
subchapter applies only to a health benefit plan that provides
benefits for medical, surgical, or prescription drug expenses
incurred as a result of a health condition, accident, or sickness,
including an individual, group, blanket, or franchise insurance
policy or insurance agreement, a group hospital service contract,
or an individual or group evidence of coverage or similar coverage
document that is issued by:
(1) an insurance company;
(2) a group hospital service corporation operating
under Chapter 842;
(3) a health maintenance organization operating under
Chapter 843;
(4) an approved nonprofit health corporation that
holds a certificate of authority under Chapter 844;
(5) a multiple employer welfare arrangement that holds
a certificate of authority under Chapter 846;
(6) a stipulated premium company operating under
Chapter 884;
(7) a fraternal benefit society operating under
Chapter 885;
(8) a Lloyd's plan operating under Chapter 941; or
(9) an exchange operating under Chapter 942.
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, this subchapter applies
to:
(1) a basic coverage plan under Chapter 1551;
(2) a basic plan under Chapter 1575;
(3) a primary care coverage plan under Chapter 1579;
(4) a plan providing basic coverage under Chapter
1601; and
(5) the child health plan program under Chapter 62,
Health and Safety Code.
Sec. 1367.303. COVERAGE REQUIRED. (a) A health benefit
plan must provide coverage for child life services provided by a
child life specialist licensed under Chapter 508, Occupations Code.
(b) A health benefit plan must provide coverage for a child
life service provided as a telemedicine medical service or
telehealth service on the same basis and to the same extent that the
plan provides coverage for the service in an in-person setting.
SECTION 4. Subchapter G, Chapter 1367, Insurance Code, as
added by this Act, applies only to a health benefit plan delivered,
issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026.
SECTION 5. (a) Not later than March 1, 2026, the executive
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall
adopt rules necessary to implement Chapter 508, Occupations Code,
as added by this Act.
(b) A person is not required to comply with Chapter 508,
Occupations Code, as added by this Act, until March 1, 2026.
SECTION 6. 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 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.