85R8450 KFF-F     By: Raymond H.B. No. 2752       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the participation of speech-language pathologists as   providers under the Medicaid program.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 32.027, Human Resources Code, is amended   by adding Subsection (n) to read as follows:          (n)  The commission shall assure that a recipient of medical   assistance under this chapter may select a licensed speech-language   pathologist, as defined by Section 401.001, Occupations Code, to   perform any health care service covered under the medical   assistance program if the pathologist is authorized by law to   perform the service.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code,   is amended by adding Section 32.081 to read as follows:          Sec. 32.081.  PRIVATE PRACTICE SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS   AS MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS.  The commission shall ensure that   licensed speech-language pathologists, as defined by Section   401.001, Occupations Code, in private practice may:                (1)  enroll under the medical assistance program as   independent practice providers or as a group practice provider   composed of multiple speech-language pathologists, provided that   each speech-language pathologist in the group practice is   individually enrolled as a medical assistance provider; and                (2)  once enrolled as a medical assistance provider,   serve all medical assistance recipients without being limited to   participation in the Texas Health Steps Comprehensive Care Program.          SECTION 3.  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 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.