the current mental health services provided to
students at public schools, (ii) the training provided
to educators who are employed to assist
with these mental health services, and (iii)
the impact that mental health services have
on reducing suicides, violent incidents, and
other avoidable occurrences that students
may experience. This task force is required to
meet twice a year and must “study, evaluate,
and make recommendations” regarding the
mental health services currently being provided,
the training being used to train educators,
and the impact of mental health services on
public school students. This legislation shows
that Texas is recognizing the need for mental
health awareness early in the development of
children. Hopefully, this task force will be able
to identify gaps in the mental healthcare services
being provided to public school students
and mending those gaps by providing better,
more eff ective care.
Also, on June 15, 2021, Governor Abbott
signed House Bill 4, which would require the
THHSC to make eff orts to regulate expanded
telehealth/telemedicine services in Texas
beyond what has traditionally been practiced.
Services off ered under this expanded telemedicine/
telehealth program would include,
but not be limited to, preventative health
and wellness services and behavioral health
services. The passing of this bill represents
a major victory for providers, patients, and
professional medical associations such as
the Texas Medical Association, who have
consistently urged the Texas legislature to
make permanent some of the more impactful
care-related waivers passed during the
COVID-19 pandemic, including those related
to behavioral health. Specifi cally, under this
new bill Medicaid recipients, child health
plan program enrollees, and other individuals
receiving benefi ts under a public health
program off ered in Texas would be able to use
remote technology to receive certain healthcare
services, including services designed to
help people with any mental health issues
they may be experiencing.
As evidenced by the multiple examples
mentioned above, Texas has shown a willingness
to bring mental health to the forefront
of public discourse. The laws and initiatives
that Texas has put in place should continue to
eff ect change in how behavioral and mental
health services are provided to residents of
the Lone Star State. However, it will be up to
the Texas legislators and the governor’s offi
ce to continue to educate themselves and
conduct research on how they can best serve
Texas citizens experiencing mental health
issues. With appropriate diligence and a continued
focus on appropriate mental healthcare,
Texas won’t remain one of the most
stressed-out states in the country for long.
This article is educational in nature and is
not intended as legal advice. Always consult
your legal counsel with specifi c legal matters.
DMJ
Refrences:
1. Paul Livengood, Texas among most stressed states in U.S., WFAA.com, available at https:/www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/
texas-stressed-study-wallethub/287-7a42275b-69d4-4709-b707-acb845115d22 (Mar. 28, 2022).
2. Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Mental Health Awareness, available at https:/www.hhs.texas.gov/about/processimprovement/
improving-services-texans/behavioral-health-services/mental-health-awareness (last visited Mar. 30, 2022).
3. Texas Health and Human Services Commission, MentalHealthTX, available at https:/mentalhealthtx.org/
4. https:/www.texmed.org/TexasMedicineDetail.aspx?id=52077 (last visited Mar. 30, 2022).
5. Tex. H.B. 1050, 87th Leg. R.S. 2021.
6. Tex. H.B. 906, 86th Leg. R.S. 2019.
7. Tex. H.B. 4, 87th Leg., R.S. 2021.
8. Texas Medical Association, Telemedicine, Liability Bills Move Ahead, available at https:/www.texmed.org/Template.aspx?id=57049.
18 | DALLAS MEDICAL JOURNAL • May 2022