Bill > HB2036

This bill amends the definition of "behavioral health services" in the Government Code to provide more comprehensive and detailed explanations of mental health and substance use disorder services. Specifically, the bill introduces two new defined terms: "intensive outpatient services" and "partial hospitalization services". Intensive outpatient services are defined as time-limited treatment services for various mental health conditions that do not require 24-hour supervision, with a minimum set of services including individual, group, and family counseling, motivational enhancement training, and relapse prevention skills training. Partial hospitalization services are defined as intensive ambulatory treatment services provided for up to 24 hours in a location other than a patient's home or residential care setting, referencing specific federal regulations. The bill allows state agencies to request federal waivers if needed for implementation and is set to take effect on September 1, 2025. The purpose appears to be to provide clearer and more explicit definitions of behavioral health services, potentially to improve access and understanding of these critical mental health and substance use disorder treatments.

Health and Social Services

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB2036