HB 1716

relating to the provision of counseling services by certain
providers under Medicaid and reimbursement for those services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 32.027, Human Resources Code, is amended
by amending Subsection (l) and adding Subsection (m) to read as
(l)  Subject to appropriations, the commission shall assure
that a recipient of medical assistance under this chapter may
select a licensed psychologist, a licensed marriage and family
therapist, as defined by Section 502.002, Occupations Code, a
licensed professional counselor, as defined by Section 503.002,
Occupations Code, or a licensed clinical [master] social worker, as
defined by Section 505.002, Occupations Code, to perform any health
care service or procedure covered under the medical assistance
program if the selected person is authorized by law to perform the
service or procedure.  This subsection shall be liberally
(m)  The commission shall assure that a recipient of medical
assistance under this chapter may select the following to perform
any health care service or procedure covered under the medical
assistance program, including a service or procedure performed at a
federally qualified health center as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section
1396d(l)(2)(B), if the selected person is licensed and authorized
by law to perform the service or procedure:
(1)  a licensed marriage and family therapist
associate, as defined by Section 502.002, Occupations Code, who is
working toward fulfilling the supervised practice requirements to
be licensed as a licensed marriage and family therapist, as defined
(2)  a licensed master social worker, as defined by
Section 505.002, Occupations Code, who is actively pursuing the
education and training required to be licensed as a licensed
clinical social worker, as defined by that section; or
(3)  a licensed professional counselor associate, as
described by 22 T.A.C. Chapter 681, who is working toward
fulfilling the supervised practice requirements to be licensed as a
licensed professional counselor, as defined by Section 503.002,
SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,
is amended by adding Section 32.079 to read as follows:
Sec. 32.079.  REIMBURSEMENT FOR CERTAIN COUNSELING
SERVICES.  (a)  Subject to Subsection (b), the commission shall
provide reimbursement under the medical assistance program to a
provider described by Section 32.027(m) who is selected by a
recipient of medical assistance and who provides a service or
procedure covered under the medical assistance program that the
provider is authorized by law to perform.  The commission shall
ensure that the provider is reimbursed at a rate equal to 50 percent
of the reimbursement rate established for a licensed psychiatrist
or licensed psychologist for providing similar services.
(b)  The commission shall ensure that reimbursement provided
to a provider under Subsection (a) is limited to not more than 3,000
hours or, if applicable, the number of hours of clinical practice or
other experience the provider is required to complete to qualify
(c)  This section shall be liberally construed.
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, 2025.