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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the provision of community-based services to |
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individuals who have or may have mental illness. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 534.053, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) The department shall ensure that, at a minimum, the |
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following services are available in each service area: |
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(1) 24-hour emergency screening and rapid crisis |
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stabilization services; |
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(2) community-based crisis residential services or |
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hospitalization; |
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(3) community-based assessments, including the |
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development of interdisciplinary treatment plans and diagnosis and |
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evaluation services; |
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(4) family support services, including respite care; |
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(5) case management services; |
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(6) medication-related services, including medication |
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clinics, laboratory monitoring, medication education, mental |
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health maintenance education, and the provision of medication; |
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[and] |
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(7) psychosocial rehabilitation programs, including |
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social support activities, independent living skills, and |
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vocational training; and |
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(8) community-based alternatives to inpatient |
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hospitalization. |
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(d) Notwithstanding any other law, the department shall |
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ensure the availability of appropriate and timely services designed |
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to meet acute mental health placement needs of patients in order to |
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reduce a patient's acute symptoms of mental illness and to prevent a |
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patient's admission to an inpatient mental health facility, as |
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defined by Section 571.003. The available services must include at |
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least one of the following: |
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(1) crisis stabilization services; |
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(2) short-term residential treatment, respite care, |
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or extended observation services; and |
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(3) medical and nursing services to address the |
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patient's mental health condition or presenting symptoms. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 534, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 534.0531 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 534.0531. FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES. The |
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department shall provide funding for the cost of ensuring the |
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availability in each service area of community-based alternatives |
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to inpatient hospitalization to the extent those costs are not paid |
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from the delivery system reform incentive payments received under |
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the Texas Health Care Transformation and Quality Improvement |
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Program 1115 waiver. |
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SECTION 3. Section 534.054, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (b) to read as follows: |
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(b) The department shall contract with a local mental health |
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authority to provide programs designed to make community-based |
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alternatives accessible and available in order to avert or mitigate |
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the need for inpatient hospitalization. |
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SECTION 4. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
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a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
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federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
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the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
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authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
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waiver or authorization is granted. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |