In addition to the words and terms defined in §23.1 of this chapter (relating to Definitions), the following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

1. (1) CHIP--The Children's Health Insurance Program, authorized by the Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 62.
2. (2) Community-Based Mental Health Services--The services found under the Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 534, Subchapter B.
3. (3) Full-time Service--Employed or contracted full-time (at least 32 hours per week for providers participating only in the state-funded program, or at least 40 hours per week for providers participating in both the state funded program and the SLRP) by an agency or facility for the primary purpose of providing mental health services to patients in Texas.
4. (4) Medicaid--The medical assistance program authorized by the Texas Human Resources Code, Chapter 32.
5. (5) Mental Health Services--As defined in Texas Health and Safety Code, §531.002. For the purposes of this subchapter, for applications received by the Coordinating Board on or after September 1, 2027, such services delivered to patients at a different physical location than the professional using secure telecommunication or information technology are considered mental health services.
6. (6) MHPSAs--Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (MHPSAs) are designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as having shortages of mental health providers and may be geographic (a county or service area), demographic (low income population), or institutional (comprehensive health center, federally qualified health center, or other public facility). Designations meet the requirements of Sec. 332 of the Public Health Service Act, 90 Stat. 2270-2272 (42 U.S.C. 254e).
7. (7) Program--Mental Health Professionals Loan Repayment Assistance Program.
8. (8) Psychiatrist--A licensed physician who is a graduate of a residency training program or fellowship program in psychiatry accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).
9. (9) Public school--A school in a Texas school district or a public charter school authorized to operate under Texas Education Code, chapter 12.

10. (10) Service Period--A period of:

    1. (A) twelve (12) consecutive months qualifying a mental health professional for loan repayment assistance; or
    2. (B) for a mental health professional employed by a public school, at least nine (9) months of a 12-month academic year qualifying the professional for loan repayment assistance.
11. (11) SLRP--A grant provided by the Health Resources and Services Administration to assist states in operating their own State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) for primary care providers working in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA).
12. (12) State Hospital--Facilities found under the Texas Health and Safety Code, §552.0011.
13. (13) Telehealth Provider--An eligible professional who delivers fifty percent or more of the professional's applicable mental health services (measured in hours per week) to patients at a different physical location than the professional using secure telecommunication or information technology.

Source Note:The provisions of this §23.94 adopted to be effective November 12, 2015, 40 TexReg 7818; amended to be effective February 22, 2016, 41 TexReg 1232; transferred effective December 15, 2016, as published in the Texas Register November 25, 2016, 41 TexReg 9341; amended to be effective May 22, 2019, 44 TexReg 2456; amended to be effective November 16, 2022, 47 TexReg 7556; amended to be effective February 15, 2024, 49 TexReg 692; amended to be effective November 14, 2024, 49 TexReg 8906; amended to be effective November 13, 2025, 50 TexReg 7270; amended to be effective May 13, 2026, 51 TexReg 3110.