Texas Administrative Code
Title 1 - ADMINISTRATION
Part 15 - TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
Chapter 354 - MEDICAID HEALTH SERVICES
Subchapter A - PURCHASED HEALTH SERVICES
Division 5 - PHYSICIAN AND PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT SERVICES
Section 354.1069 - Sign Language Interpreter Services
Universal Citation: 1 TX Admin Code ยง 354.1069
Current through Reg. 49, No. 38; September 20, 2024
(a) Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings.
(1) Deaf--The term "deaf" is defined in the
Human Resources Code, Title 4, Services for the Deaf, Chapter 81, Texas
Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, §81.001,
Definitions.
(2) Hard of
Hearing--The term "hard of hearing" is defined in the Human Resources Code,
Title 4, Services for the Deaf, Chapter 81, Texas Commission for the Deaf and
Hard of Hearing, §81.001, Definitions.
(3) Interpreter--An interpreter is an
individual who possesses one of the following certification levels (i.e.,
levels A - H) issued by either the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative
Services, Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, Board for Evaluation of
Interpreters (BEI) or the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID):
(A) Certification Level A:
(i) Level I/Ii; and
(ii) OC:B (Oral Certificate:
Basic).
(B)
Certification Level B:
(i) BEI Basic;
and
(ii) RID NIC (National
Interpreter Certificate) Certified.
(C) Certification Level C:
(i) BEI Level II/IIi;
(ii) RID CI (Certificate of
Interpretation);
(iii) RID CT
(Certificate of Transliteration);
(iv) RID IC, (Interpretation Certificate);
and
(v) RID TC (Transliteration
Certificate).
(D)
Certification Level D:
(i) BEI Level
III/IIIi;
(ii) BEI OC: C (Oral
Certificate: Comprehensive);
(iii)
BEI OC: V (Oral Certificate: Visible);
(iv) RID CSC (Comprehensive Skills
Certificate);
(v) RID IC/TC
(Interpretation Certificate/Transliteration Certificate);
(vi) RID CI/CT (Certificate of
Interpretation/Certificate of Transliteration);
(vii) RID RSC (Reverse Skills Certificate);
and
(viii) RID CDI (Certified Deaf
Interpreter).
(E)
Certification Level E:
(i) BEI Advanced;
and
(ii) RID NIC
Advanced.
(F)
Certification Level F:
(i) BEI
IV/IVi;
(ii) RID MCSC (Master
Comprehensive Skills Certificate); and
(iii) RID SC: L (Specialist Certificate:
Legal).
(G)
Certification Level G is BEI V/VI.
(H) Certification Level H:
(i) BEI Master; and
(ii) RID NIC Master.
(4) Interpreting Services--The
provision of voice-to-sign, sign-to-voice, gestural-to-sign, sign-to-gestural,
voice-to-visual, visual-to-voice, sign-to-visual, or visual-to-sign services
for communication access provided by a certified interpreter.
(b) Benefit and Limitations. Sign language interpreting services are a health care benefit of the State Medical Assistance (Medicaid) Program.
(1) Sign
language interpreting services must be requested by a physician and provided by
a qualified interpreter to facilitate communication between:
(A) A client who is deaf or hard of hearing
and a physician during the course of a medically necessary medical examination
or other medical services; or,
(B)
A client's parent or guardian who is deaf or hard of hearing and a physician
during the course of the client's medically necessary medical examination or
other medical services.
(2) A physician's determination of the need
for sign language interpreting services shall give primary consideration to the
needs of the individual who is deaf or hard of hearing.
(3) The physician requesting interpreting
services must maintain documentation verifying the provision of interpreting
services.
(A) Documentation of the service
must be included in the patient's medical record and must include the name of
the sign language interpreter and the interpreter's certification
level.
(B) Documentation must be
made available if requested by the Commission or its designee.
(c) Physician requirements for billing of and reimbursement for sign language interpreting services.
(1) Physicians must be enrolled in
the Texas Medicaid Program to be considered for reimbursement.
(2) Reimbursement for sign language
interpreting services is limited to physicians or physician groups employing
fewer than fifteen employees.
(3)
Providers seeking reimbursement for sign language interpreting services must
provide and bill for the service in the manner prescribed by the Texas Medicaid
Program and in accordance with §
RSA
355.8085 of this title (relating to
Reimbursement Methodology for Physicians and Other Practitioners).
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Texas may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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