H.B. No. 1878

	AN ACT
	relating to the provision of telemedicine medical services in a
	school-based setting, including the reimbursement of providers
	under the Medicaid program for those services.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 531.0217, Government Code, is amended by
	adding Subsections (c-4) and (g-1) and amending Subsection (g) to
	read as follows:
	(c-4)  The commission shall ensure that Medicaid
	reimbursement is provided to a physician for a telemedicine medical
	service provided by the physician, even if the physician is not the
	patient's primary care physician or provider, if:
	(1)  the physician is an authorized health care
	provider under Medicaid;
	(2)  the patient is a child who receives the service in
	a primary or secondary school-based setting;
	(3)  the parent or legal guardian of the patient
	provides consent before the service is provided; and
	(4)  a health professional is present with the patient
	during the treatment.
	(g)  If a patient receiving a telemedicine medical service
	has a primary care physician or provider and consents or, if
	appropriate, the patient's parent or legal guardian consents to the
	notification, the commission shall require that the primary care
	physician or provider be notified of the telemedicine medical
	service for the purpose of sharing medical information. In the case
	of a service provided to a child in a school-based setting as
	described by Subsection (c-4), the notification, if any, must
	include a summary of the service, including exam findings,
	prescribed or administered medications, and patient instructions.
	(g-1)  If a patient receiving a telemedicine medical service
	in a school-based setting as described by Subsection (c-4) does not
	have a primary care physician or provider, the commission shall
	require that the patient's parent or legal guardian receive:
	(1)  the notification required under Subsection (g);
	and
	(2)  a list of primary care physicians or providers
	from which the patient may select the patient's primary care
	physician or provider.
	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, 2015.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 1878 was passed by the House on May 8,
	2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 141, Nays 0, 1 present, not
	voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 1878 was passed by the Senate on May
	21, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 1.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	APPROVED:  _____________________
	Date
	_____________________
	Governor