| (a) A licensed treatment program may provide outpatient
chemical dependency treatment program services by electronic means
provided the criteria outlined in this section are addressed.
(1) Services may be provided to adult and adolescent
clients to the extent allowed by the facility's license; and
(2) Services shall be provided by a qualified credentialed
counselor (QCC) or by a counselor intern with more than 2,000 hours
of supervised work experience who has passed the chemical dependency
counselor licensing exam.
(b) All treatment sessions shall have two forms of
access control as follows:
(1) all on-line contact between a QCC and clients must
begin with a verification of the client through a name, password or
pin number; and
(2) security as detailed in the Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
(c) A facility must implement adequate security and
encryption measures to ensure all patient communications, recordings
and records are protected and are in adherence with federal and state
privacy laws, including HIPAA and Texas Health and Safety Code Chapters
181, 464, and 466.
(d) Programs shall maintain compliance with HIPAA and
Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 2.
(e) Programs shall not use e-mail communications containing
client identifying information.
(f) Programs shall use audio and video in real time.
(g) Programs shall ensure timely access to individuals
qualified in the technology as backup for systems problems.
(h) Programs shall develop a contingency plan and maintain
alternate means of communication for clients when technical problems
occur during the provision of services.
(i) Programs shall provide a description of all services
offered.
(j) Programs shall provide develop criteria, in addition
to DSM, to assess clients for appropriateness of utilizing electronic
services.
(k) Programs shall provide appropriate referrals for
clients who do not meet the criteria for services.
(l) Programs shall develop a grievance procedure and
provide a link to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)
for filing a complaint when using the Internet or HHSC's toll-free
number when counseling by telephone.
(m) Prior to clients engaging in Internet services,
programs shall describe and provide in writing the potential risks
to clients. The risks shall address at a minimum these areas:
(1) clinical aspects;
(2) security; and
(3) confidentiality.
(n) Programs shall create safeguards to ensure adolescents
receive treatment services separately from adults and verify a client's
identity and the identity of any authorized participant.
(o) Programs shall provide clients with information
to access online or a copy of the current version of the following
chemical dependency treatment facility (CDTF) rules, statutes, and
federal regulations to notify clients of applicable rules and laws
regarding CDTFs:
(1) This chapter;
(2) Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 464; and
(3) 42 CFR Part 2.
(p) Programs shall provide the program's emergency
contact information to the client.
(q) Programs shall maintain resource information for
the local area of the client.
(r) Programs shall provide reasonable Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) accommodations for clients upon request.
(s) Programs must reside and perform services in Texas.
(t) HHSC maintains the authority to regulate the program
regardless of the location of the client.
(u) The facility shall provide the facility's emergency
contact information to the client.
(v) The facility shall maintain resource information
for the local area of the client.
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| Source Note: The provisions of this §448.911 adopted to be effective September 1, 2004, 29 TexReg 2020; transferred effective September 1, 2004, as published in the Texas Register September 10, 2004, 29 TexReg 8842; amended to be effective March 3, 2022, 47 TexReg 655 |
