Telehealth News

Texas Mulls Telehealth Pilot for Early Childhood Intervention Services

A bill before Texas lawmakers would create a pilot telehealth program for delivering early childhood intervention services in schools and other designated locations, to be funded by Medicaid.

Source: ThinkStock

By Eric Wicklund

- Texas lawmakers are considering a bill that would create a statewide telehealth pilot program for early childhood intervention services, with providers reimbursed through Medicaid.

HB 12 would, if approved, create a network of connected care services in schools and other locations in parts of the state where access to early childhood intervention services is limited. The state’s Health and Human Services Commission would select eligible schools and school districts, providers and students for the so-called “tele-connective pilot program.”

Supporters say the program would give a much-needed boost the state’s Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) program, which provides therapy and services to more than 50,000 babies and toddlers diagnosed with disabilities and developmental delays.

Supporters say the program hasn’t been fully funded since 2011, forcing several nonprofit contractors to drop out. And while the House has passed a bill allocating about $72 million for ECI, the Senate version only allots $17 million.

“This bill supports ECI families by piloting a telehealth program to provide ECI services remotely, which will provide for the potential for increased services across our state,” State Rep. Sarah Davis, R-Houston, who filed the bill, told the Texas Standard. “Coupled with the full funding passed by this body in House Bill 1, this legislation will provide much needed relief to providers strapped to deliver the life-changing services that little Texans across our state deserve access to.”

Services offered under the program include occupational therapy evaluations and services; physical therapy evaluations and services; speech therapy evaluations and services; dietary or nutritional evaluations; specialized skills training and case management by certified early intervention specialists.

Providers involved in the program would be reimbursed “at a rate that is comparable to the rate paid under Medicaid for the provision of the same or substantially similar services.” It also mandates that health plans provide coverage for the service “at a rate that is at least equal to the reimbursement rate the health care provider would receive for providing the same or a substantially similar service under Medicaid.”

The commission would be instructed to seek funding from the program from several sources, including the Federal Communications Commission’s Rural Health Care Program, the US Health Resources and Services Administration’s Office for the Advancement of Telehealth and the Agriculture Department’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program.

The bill sets several deadlines for the new program. By September of 2020, the commission must evaluate the program to ensure that there are a sufficient number of access points in participating schools to meet the program’s needs. The commission must also submit a report to state officials on the program’s effectiveness by January 2021.

Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
©2012-2024 TechTarget, Inc. Xtelligent Healthcare Media is a division of TechTarget. All rights reserved. HealthITAnalytics.com is published by Xtelligent Healthcare Media a division of TechTarget.