bill making Medicaid pay for functional family therapy

The text as introduced · 232 words

89R1443 SCF-D

By: Johnson
H.B. No. 488

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to Medicaid coverage and reimbursement for functional

family therapy services.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,

is amended by adding Section 32.04261 to read as follows:

Sec. 32.04261. REIMBURSEMENT FOR FUNCTIONAL FAMILY THERAPY

SERVICES. (a) In this section:

(1) "At-risk youth" means children who are at risk of

involvement with the child welfare system, the criminal justice

system, or the juvenile justice system.

(2) "Functional family therapy" means an intensive,

short-term, family-based therapeutic treatment program for at-risk

youth designed to improve family dynamics, communication, and

support by:

(A) addressing core causes of dysfunctional

behavior patterns;

(B) decreasing negativity in the household; and

(C) providing tools to improve parental skills

and relationships.

(b) The commission shall ensure that medical assistance

reimbursement is provided to a provider who provides functional

family therapy services to a recipient under the medical assistance

program.

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, 2025.