Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following
words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following
meanings.
(1)Client--A consumer or proposed consumer of speech-language
pathology or audiology services.
(2)Client site--The physical location of the client
at the time the telehealth services are being provided [
furnished via telecommunications].
[(3)Consultant--Any professional
who collaborates with a provider of telehealth services to provide
services to clients.]
(3)[(4)] Facilitator--The individual
at the client site who assists with the delivery of the telehealth
services at the direction of the provider [audiologist
or speech-language pathologist].
(4)[(5)] Provider--An individual
who holds a current[, renewable, unrestricted] speech-language
pathology, [or] audiology, or dual license
under Texas Occupations Code §401.302 and §401.304; [or]
an individual who holds a current speech-language pathology intern
or an audiology intern license under Texas Occupations Code
§401.311; or an individual who holds a current speech-language
pathology assistant license under Texas Occupations Code §401.312.
(5)[(6)] Provider site--The
physical location of [at which] the provider [
speech-language pathologist or audiologist delivering the services
is located] at the time the telehealth services are
provided [via telecommunications] which is distant or remote
from the client site.
(6)[(7)] Telecommunications--Interactive
communication at a distance by concurrent two-way transmission, using
telecommunications technology, of information, including, without
limitation, sound, visual images, and/or computer data, between the
client site and the provider site, and required to occur without a
change in the form or content of the information, as sent and received,
other than through encoding or encryption of the transmission itself
for purposes of and to protect the transmission.
(7)[(8)] Telecommunications
technology--Computers, smart phones, and equipment, other
than analog telephone, email or facsimile technology and
equipment, used or capable of use for purposes of telecommunications.
For purposes of this subchapter, the term includes, without limitation:
(A)compressed digital interactive video, audio, or
data transmission;
(B)clinical data transmission using computer imaging
by way of still-image capture and storage and forward; [and]
(C)smart phones, or any audio-visual,
real-time, or two-way interactive communication system; and
(D)[(C)] other technology that
facilitates the delivery of telehealth [telepractice]
services.
(8)[(9)] Telehealth--The use
of telecommunications and information technologies for the exchange
of information from one site to another for the provision of speech-language
pathology or audiology services to a client from a provider,
including for assessments, interventions, or consultations regarding
a speech-language pathology or audiology client. For a provider who
is an audiologist or an audiology intern, telehealth includes the
use of telecommunications technology for the fitting and dispensing
of hearing instruments. Telehealth is also referred to as telepractice.
(9)[(10)] Telehealth services--The
application of telecommunication technology to deliver speech-language
pathology and/or audiology services at a distance for assessment,
intervention, and/or consultation, including the rendering of
audiology and/or speech-language pathology services through telehealth
to a client who is physically located at a site other than the site
where the provider is located. For a provider who is an audiologist
or an audiology intern, telehealth services includes the fitting and
dispensing of hearing instruments through telehealth to a client who
is physically located at a site other than the site where the provider
is located. Telehealth services are also referred to as telepractice
services.
[(11)Telepractice--The use of telecommunications
technology by a license holder for an assessment, intervention, or
consultation regarding a speech-language pathology or audiology client.]
[(12)Telepractice services--The rendering
of audiology and/or speech-language pathology services through telepractice
to a client who is physically located at a site other than the site
where the provider is located.]
The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed
the proposal and found it to be within the state agency's legal authority
to adopt.
Filed
with the Office of the Secretary of State on August 30, 2021
TRD-202103400 Brad Bowman
General Counsel
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
Earliest possible date of adoption: October 10, 2021
For further information, please call: (512) 475-4879
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