The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

1. (1) Board--The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
2. (2) CHIP--The Children's Health Insurance Program, authorized by the Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 62.

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 SLRP providers) by an agency or facility in a mental health professional shortage area for the primary purpose of providing direct mental health services to:

   1. (A) Medicaid recipients;
   2. (B) CHIP enrollees;
   3. (C) persons in facilities operated by or under contract with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department; and/or
   4. (D) persons in facilities operated by or under contract with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
4. (4) 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). Texas MHPSAs are recommended for designation by HHS based on analysis of data by the Department of State Health Services.
5. (5) Medicaid--The medical assistance program authorized by Chapter 32, Human Resources Code.
6. (6) Service Period--A period of 12 consecutive months qualifying a mental health professional for loan repayment.
7. (7) SLRP--State Loan Repayment Program, a subset of the Loan Repayment Program for Mental Health Professionals that is funded by grants to states authorized by the Public Health Service Act, Title III, §3381(a)-(i)(42 U.S.C. 254q-1(a)-(i)), through the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. SLRP loan repayment awards are supported by an equal match of state and federal funds.
8. (8) Psychiatrist--A licensed physician who is a graduate of an accredited psychiatric residency training program.

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.