HBA-NMO H.B. 2304 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2304
By: Coleman
Public Health
3/17/99
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, psychologists, social workers, and licensed professional
counselors are eligible to receive Medicaid reimbursement for the provision
of family counseling services.  However, licensed marriage and family
therapists are not eligible for Medicaid reimbursement.  H.B. 2304 requires
the Health and Human Services Commission or an agency operating part of the
medical assistance program, as appropriate, to permit a recipient of
medical assistance to receive family counseling services through a licensed
family therapist.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 32.027, Human Resources Code, by adding
Subsection (j), as follows: 

(j) Requires the Health and Human Service Commission or an agency operating
part of the medical assistance program, as appropriate, to permit a
recipient of medical assistance under this chapter (Medical Assistance
Program) to receive family counseling services through a licensed marriage
and family therapist, as defined by Section 2, Article 4512c-1, V.T.C.S.
(Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Act). 

SECTION 2.  Requires a state agency, if before implementing any provision
of this Act it determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal
agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, to request the
waiver or authorization and authorizes the state agency to delay
implementing that provision until the waiver or authorization is granted. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.