88R6661 MEW/BEE-D     By: Shaheen H.B. No. 1390       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-a), Insurance Code, is   amended to read as follows:                (1-a)  "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, 2024. A health benefit   plan delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed before January 1,   2024, 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, 2023.