HBA-CCH H.B. 3365 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3365 By: Maxey Human Services 3/29/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Texas Health Steps (THSteps) is the largest and most comprehensive medical and dental prevention and treatment program for children of low income families. Many social workers who currently provide THSteps medical case management services (services) will no longer be permitted to provide these services. The reason for this is that THSteps services meet the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners' (TSBSWE) definition for "private and independent practice" that can only be provided by Licensed Master Social Worker Advanced Practitioners (LMSW-APs) and Licensed Master Social Worker-Advanced Clinical Practitioners (LMSW-ACPs). Unfortunately, few LMSW-APs or LSMWACPs have enrolled as providers for THSteps services. Consequently, many children are in jeopardy of losing important health and developmental services. House Bill 3365 permits all licensed social workers to provide case management services in the THSteps program. 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. ANALYSIS House Bill 3365 amends the Occupations Code to set forth that the Professional Social Work Act does not limit a licensed social worker from providing case management services in the Medicaid program administered by the Texas Department of Health in accordance with rules adopted by the Texas Board of Health. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.