Do You Know a Superstar? Get Ready! Set! Nominate!
Deadline is June 1, 2016

 

You already know that remarkable, outstanding counselor who deserves to be recognized for all their hard work. That counselor may be your best friend, someone you've admired and emulated, and even someone you've worked with. Heck, it might even be you! Don't wait. Now's the time to start recognizing TCA Superstars. Choose from 11 different Award categories and submit your nomination(s) via the online submission form. The deadline is June 1, 2016. TCA Superstars will be recognized at the 'Superstar Awards Ceremony' held during the 60th Professional Growth Conference this November in Dallas.

TCA Member Delivers Invited Testimony Before State Legislature
Addressed the Special House Committee on Mental Health

 

Sharon Cunningham, TCA member and practicing LPC, was recently invited to testify before the Texas Legislature's Special House Committee on Mental Health. Specifically, the committee met to address initiatives on increasing access to mental health services in Texas. Watch Sharon in action starting at the 1:43:00 minute mark where she advocates for 1) allowing LPC-Interns the ability to bill under the Medicaid program, 2) increasing reimbursement rates for all fully licensed mental health professionals, 3) allowing licensure boards to retain more than 50% of the revenue earned from licensing fees, and 4) establishing a standard reimbursement rate across all health insurance providers.

COMMENT on Proposed SBEC Rules for School Counselor Certificates
Public Comments Due June 6, 2016

 

The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) has proposed new rules to govern the Title 19 of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Chapter 239, Student Services Certificates. The rules under review include Subchapter A, School Counselor Certificates pursuant to the Texas Government Code, §2001.039. The public comment period began May 6, 2016, and will end June 6, 2016. Identify comments as "SBEC Rule Review" and submit them to sbecrules@tea.texas.gov. The SBEC will also take registered oral and written comments on the review of 19 TAC Chapter 239 at the June 10, 2016 meeting in accordance with the SBEC board operating policies and procedures.

Discover Your Inner Superhero on a TCA Committee

 

  "Here I come to save the day" and help shape the future of TCA! Applications are now open for service on one of TCA's 10 committees. Select the committee that best suits your talents and interests. Committee members are appointed to serve one year terms beginning July 1 of each year. Current committee members must re-volunteer if they wish to serve another year. The deadline to volunteer is midnight on June 1, 2016.

JULY 15 is Last Early-Bird Date: TCA's 60th Annual Professional Growth Conference
Rate is Open to TCA Members ONLY 

 

Right now, TCA members can register for the conference as an early-bird for just $125; students and new-professional members pay even less. Enhance your professional tool-kit while taking advantage of a numerous of networking events. All programs will be eligible for LPC, NBCC, SBEC, LMFT, SW, Psychologist and School Psychologist continuing education credits. Complete details available at www.txca.org/PGC.

TEA Proposes Changes to Communities in Schools Programs: Submit Comments

 

The Commissioner of Education has proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 89, Adaptations for Special Populations, Subchapter EE, Commissioner's Rules Concerning the Communities In Schools Program. The proposed revisions would modify the rules to reflect updates in program management and to more closely match current practice. This includes changes to student eligibility, funding formulas, and grant application requirements, among others. Public Comment is open from May 6, 2016 - June 6, 2016, email rules@tea.texas.gov. The earliest date of adoption is June 6, 2016, with a proposed effective date of August 1, 2016.

Early-Bird Now Open!
13th Annual Professional School Counselor Conference
Takes Place February 12 - 14, 2017 in Arlington 

 

Calling all School Counselors in Texas! Join your colleagues at the 13th Annual Professional School Counselor Conference next spring. The three-day event will take place at the Arlington Convention Center February 12-14, 2017. Early-bird rates are now open to TCA members only. Save money on tailored, comprehensive CE programs as well as two General Session presentations. Learn innovative techniques to enhance your practice as well as new trends related to student growth and development. Check the conference website for more details; www.txca.org/SCC.

Join TX Inspector General's New Integrity Initiative
Established to Strengthen State Medicaid System

 

The Inspector General of the Health and Human Service Commission has launched the IG Integrity Initiative (IGII), a new collaboration between the Inspector General, Medicaid providers, Managed Care Organizations, and any individual or entity that receives Medicaid funding. This is a new , voluntary collaboration that will strengthen our joint efforts to develop the best Medicaid system Texas by root ing out fraud, waste, and abuse. The Inspector General is seeking v oluntary partnership s with any MCO or provider willing to help improve the integrity of Texas' Medicaid program. To participate , please sign an IGII pledge and send it to   OIGIntegrityInitiative@hhsc.state.tx.us.

Changes Adopted: Medicaid, Medicare Provider Enrollment

 

To ensure practice locations are enrolled in compliance with state and federal rules, while limiting the administrative burden for providers, these amendments revise rule provisions to require one enrollment application for each provider and all applicable application fees, and then leverage available Medicare data to ensure practice locations not included in the initial enrollment application are screened and validated. PIC forms, in lieu of a complete new application, will be accepted for limited-risk Medicaid providers and providers enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare to update their practice locations. PIC forms or other supplemental forms will be revised as needed to indicate to the Texas Medicaid and Health Partnership and the HHSC Office of the Inspector General when the submitted form is not sufficient and will indicate that an enrollment application must be submitted for the new practice location (e.g. if the new location is associated with a new program or provider type or ownership change).

TEA / SBEC Amend Educator Disciplinary Guidelines
Changes Took Effect on May 15

 

The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) adopted amendments to TAC Chapter 249 to create more specific penalty guidelines for Texas Education Agency (TEA) in settling or prosecuting educator discipline cases. The adopted amendments also establish a process that SBEC will use when the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) dismisses and remands a case in accordance with Texas Government Code. Read the Texas Registrar - May 6th Issue for complete details, starting on page 20.

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