S.B. No. 922
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the reimbursement of certain providers under the
  Medicaid program for the provision of telehealth services.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 531.02171 to read as follows:
         Sec. 531.02171.  REIMBURSEMENT FOR CERTAIN TELEHEALTH
  SERVICES.  (a)  In this section, "health professional" means an
  individual who is:
               (1)  licensed, registered, certified, or otherwise
  authorized by this state to practice as a social worker,
  occupational therapist, or speech-language pathologist;
               (2)  a licensed professional counselor;
               (3)  a licensed marriage and family therapist; or
               (4)  a licensed specialist in school psychology.
         (b)  The commission shall ensure that Medicaid reimbursement
  is provided to a school district or open-enrollment charter school
  for telehealth services provided through the school district or
  charter school by a health professional, even if the health
  professional is not the patient's primary care provider, if:
               (1)  the school district or charter school is an
  authorized health care provider under Medicaid; and
               (2)  the parent or legal guardian of the patient
  provides consent before the service is provided.
         SECTION 2.  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 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 922 passed the Senate on
  May 1, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2; and that the
  Senate concurred in House amendment on May 25, 2017, by the
  following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 922 passed the House, with
  amendment, on May 20, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 135,
  Nays 0, one present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor