Section 681.37 - Billing and Financial Arrangements(a) Billing Requirements. (1) A licensee must bill clients or third parties for only those services actually rendered or as agreed to by mutual understanding at the beginning of services or as later modified by mutual written agreement.(2) Relationships between a licensee and any other person used by the licensee to provide services to a client must be so reflected on billing documents.(3) Upon the written request of a client, a client's guardian, or a client's parent (sole managing, joint managing or possessory conservator) if the client is a minor, a licensee must provide, in plain language, a written explanation of the types of treatment and charges for counseling treatment intervention previously made on a bill or statement for the client. This requirement applies even if the charges are to be paid by a third party.(4) A licensee may not knowingly overcharge a client.(5) A licensee may not submit to a client or a third party payor a bill for counseling treatment intervention the licensee knows or should know is improper, unreasonable, or unnecessary. However, nothing in this rule should be construed to prevent a licensee from submitting a bill for an unkept appointment.(b) In accordance with §503.401(a)(4) of the Act, a licensee must not intentionally or knowingly offer to pay or agree to accept any remuneration directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash or in kind, to or from any person, firm, association of persons, partnership, corporation, or entity for securing or soliciting clients or patronage.(c) A licensee employed or under contract with a chemical dependency facility or a mental health facility must comply with the requirements in the Texas Health and Safety Code, § 164.006, relating to soliciting and contracting with certain referral sources. Compliance with the Treatment Facilities Marketing Practices Act, Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 164, will not be considered as a violation of state law relating to illegal remuneration.22 Tex. Admin. Code § 681.37
Adopted by Texas Register, Volume 48, Number 37, September 15, 2023, TexReg 5141, eff. 9/21/2023