Texas Government Code - GOV'T § 533.039. Delivery of Benefits Using Telecommunications and Information Technology

(a) The commission shall establish policies and procedures to improve access to care under the Medicaid managed care program by encouraging the use of telehealth services, telemedicine medical services, home telemonitoring services, and other telecommunications or information technology under the program.

(b) To the extent permitted by federal law, the executive commissioner by rule shall establish policies and procedures that allow a Medicaid managed care organization to conduct assessments and provide care coordination services using telecommunications or information technology. In establishing the policies and procedures, the executive commissioner shall consider:

(c) If a Medicaid managed care organization conducts an assessment of or provides care coordination services to a recipient using telecommunications or information technology, the managed care organization shall:

(d) To the extent permitted by federal law, the commission shall allow a recipient who is assessed or provided with care coordination services by a Medicaid managed care organization using telecommunications or information technology to provide consent or other authorizations to receive services verbally instead of in writing.

(e) The commission shall determine categories of recipients of home and community-based services who must receive in-person visits. Except during circumstances described by Subsection (b)(4), a Medicaid managed care organization shall, for a recipient of home and community-based services for which the commission requires in-person visits, conduct:

(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the commission may, on a case-by-case basis, require a Medicaid managed care organization to discontinue the use of telecommunications or information technology for assessment or service coordination services if the commission determines that the discontinuation is in the best interest of the recipient.