bill adding mental health workers to telehealth coverage

The text as introduced · 373 words

90R2754 MEW/BEE-D

By: Shaheen
H.B. No. 1027

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to telemedicine medical services and telehealth services

covered by certain health benefit plans or provided by a

pharmacist.

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

SECTION 1. Section 1455.001(1-b), Insurance Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(1-b) "Health professional" means:

(A) a physician;

(B) an individual who is:

(i) licensed or certified in this state to

perform health care services; and

(ii) authorized to assist:

(a) a physician in providing

telemedicine medical services that are delegated and supervised by

the physician; or

(b) a dentist in providing

teledentistry dental services that are delegated and supervised by

the dentist;

(C) a licensed or certified health professional ,

including a mental health professional, acting within the scope of

the license or certification who does not perform a telemedicine

medical service or a teledentistry dental service; [ or ]

(D) a dentist ; or

(E) an individual who is credentialed to provide

qualified mental health professional community services, has

demonstrated and documented competency in the work to be performed,

and:

(i) holds a bachelor's or more advanced

degree from an accredited institution of higher education with a

minimum number of hours that is equivalent to a major in psychology,

social work, medicine, nursing, rehabilitation, counseling,

sociology, human growth and development, physician assistant

studies, gerontology, special education, educational psychology,

early childhood education, or early childhood intervention;

(ii) is a registered nurse; or

(iii) completes an alternative

credentialing process identified by the Health and Human Services

Commission .

SECTION 2. Section 554.005, Occupations Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:

(d) In implementing Subsection (a)(3)(C)(iv), the board may

not require the in-person counseling of patients.

SECTION 3. Chapter 1455, Insurance Code, as amended by this

Act, applies only to a health benefit plan delivered, issued for

delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2028. A health benefit

plan delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed before January 1,

2028, is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the

effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for

that purpose.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.