Texas Board Rejects Proposal To Require In-Person Visits Before Telemental Services

On March 2, 2016, the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors denied a proposal to require an in-person relationship between a therapist and a new consumer before the therapist could use telehealth to provide mental health counseling. In its decision on the proposal, the board said there was no need to mandate an in-person visit.

The proposed rule was released in the January 15, 2016 issue of the Texas Register. The Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors Proposed Rules 22 TAC §681.41 required that an in-person relationship be established during a face . . .