If passed, both HB 2528 and HB 1142 could reduce treatment wait times and eliminate cost barriers.
If passed, both HB 2528 and HB 1142 could reduce treatment wait times and eliminate cost barriers.
If passed, both HB 2528 and HB 1142 could reduce treatment wait times and eliminate cost barriers.
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas lawmakers are considering several bills aimed at improving access to mental health and substance use treatment — including for adolescents.
On Wednesday, the Texas House Committee on Insurance will take up House Bill 2528, which would require insurance plans to cover medication-assisted treatment for opioid and substance use disorders. It’s part of a broader push this legislative session to address growing concerns around addiction and mental health access.
Also advancing through the legislative process is House Bill 1142, which already passed out of committee. The bill would mandate that certain government health plans, like those offered through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), provide coverage for mental health services — including treatment for substance use disorders. The measure has garnered bipartisan support.
Senate Bill 1732 would allow physicians to delegate authority to nurse practitioners (APRNs) and physician assistants (PAs) to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances specifically in licensed narcotic drug treatment programs.
Among the organizations backing the proposed legislation is Youth180, a Dallas-based nonprofit that has helped North Texas teens recover from substance use for more than four decades.
Youth180 specializes in adolescent mental health and addiction recovery. The organization offers outpatient counseling, intensive day treatment, family support services, and prevention programs for youth ages 13 to 17. Their approach is rooted in trauma-informed care and the belief that early intervention can lead to lifelong recovery.
Keri Stitt, President and CEO of Youth180, emphasized how critical legislative support is for continuing their mission.
“The biggest existential threat to being able to provide quality treatment services is the Legislature, because they determine the amount of money is allocated to treatment services, whether it’s to adults or adolescents,” said Stitt. “So the bills that we are currently supporting are ones that will remove unnecessary barriers for us and expedite the process to provide these life-saving services.”
Youth180 staff say they’ve seen a rising number of teens struggling with both mental health challenges and substance use. Stitt told WFAA they’ve even seen children as young as 12 with substance use disorders.
They argue that mental health and addiction are interconnected and should be treated as such.
The organization’s message to lawmakers is simple: mental health is physical health.
If passed, both HB 2528 and HB 1142 could reduce treatment wait times and eliminate cost barriers — making critical care more accessible for young Texans and their families.