(a) In this section, “child with special health care needs” has the meaning assigned by § 35.0022, Health and Safety Code.
(b) The executive commissioner by rule shall establish policies that permit reimbursement under Medicaid and the child health plan program for services provided through telemedicine medical services, teledentistry dental services, and telehealth services to children with special health care needs.

(c) The policies required under this section must:
(1) be designed to:
(A) prevent unnecessary travel and encourage efficient use of telemedicine medical services, teledentistry dental services, and telehealth services for children with special health care needs in all suitable circumstances; and
(B) ensure in a cost-effective manner the availability to a child with special health care needs of services appropriately performed using telemedicine medical services, teledentistry dental services, and telehealth services that are comparable to the same types of services available to that child without the use of telemedicine medical services, teledentistry dental services, and telehealth services; and
(2) provide for reimbursement of multiple providers of different services who participate in a single session of telemedicine medical services, teledentistry dental services, telehealth services, or any combination of those services, for a child with special health care needs, if the commission determines that reimbursing each provider for the session is cost-effective in comparison to the costs that would be involved in obtaining the services from providers without the use of telemedicine medical services, teledentistry dental services, and telehealth services, including the costs of transportation and lodging and other direct costs.

Text of section effective until April 01, 2025