Do you have a professional or personal legal question? LegalCare offers FREE unlimited telephone consultations for TCA members with an attorney for both professional and personal issues. All phone discussions are strictly confidential. Members may call as often as desired for advice and consultation on any area of the law including licensing issues, collection problems, contract questions, government violations, criminal cases, divorce and more.

If your license expires in August, remember to renew before August 14th! All behavioral health licensing board will “move” to the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council on September 1st. To ensure a smooth transition of the databases, the online licensing system will be unavailable beginning August 16th through August 31st.

While the majority of the proposed changes are procedural, several amendments – including the change from LPC-Intern to LPC-Associate – merit comment. TCA has provided a summary of proposed rule changes. We encourage you to share your thoughts and submit comments by the deadlines listed below. The proposed rules will likely go into effect in late fall.  

Included in the proposed rules is the change from LPC Intern to LPC Associate. Comments are due by August 17, 2020 to Open.Records@tsbep.texas.gov.  

HHS is participating in the National Academy of State Health Policy Maternal Child Health Policy Innovation Program to improve access to care for low income pregnant and parenting women who have or are at risk of substance use disorder through health care delivery system transformation.

Input on this survey will help HHSC analyze needed policy changes. It will allow HHSC to develop better training and communication around SUD identification, existing treatment benefits, and referral and intervention processes for pregnant and postpartum women enrolled in Medicaid, CHIP, CHIP Perinatal, and the Healthy Texas Women Program.

HHSC’s goal is to support blending of behavioral health care into health care settings where people first start care. Settings include obstetric practice, primary care, and emergency departments. The focus is on improved screening and referrals to treatment for pregnant and parenting women with a SUD.

This survey is available until Aug. 31, 2020. Email Elizabeth Conville with questions.

Gov. Greg Abbott and HHSC today announced that the federal government has further extended the deadline to apply for the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund. The deadline has now been extended to Aug. 28, 2020, for Medicaid and CHIP providers as the state responds to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) extended the requirement that insurers licensed in Texas cover telemedicine services, including mental health visits, at the same rate as in-person visits through September 12, 2020. An emergency rule in place since March helps doctors across Texas treat their patients and limit the spread of COVID-19. 

Governor Greg Abbott extended the Disaster Declaration he issued in March through September 12, 2020. Disaster declarations must be renewed every 30 days. Any rules or statutes that impede the state’s ability to effectively respond and deliver needed services during a disaster are suspended. During a disaster, professional counselors licensed in other states may deliver services to clients located in Texas due to the pandemic, do not need to seek licensure in Texas.

The Texas School Counselor Association, a division of the Texas Counseling Association, is hosting a webinar with TEA laster this month. New TEA School Counseling Program Manager, Stephanie Lerner, will share helpful resources as well as a suggested 3-step plan for supporting students during the school reopening. The first part of this session will be spent on introductions, resources, and a reopening plan for school counselors. The second part of the session will be a Q&A forum to discuss various school counseling topics.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Division for College Readiness and Success in partnership with the Texas College Access Network is hosting a series of free workshops. You can access the programs and resources from the Texas Dual Credit and the Virtual Advising Panel programs below.  

 

Programs on “Admissions – Standardize Testing” and “Supporting students virtually: FAFSA/TASFA will be coming soon.