Licensing in Texas
Speech-language pathologists in Texas are licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which took over from the former Department of State Health Services board. For telehealth, the clinician must be licensed where the client physically is during the session.
A terminology note
In Texas this is telehealth, not telemedicine. Telemedicine is reserved in Texas statute for physician services. A small thing, but if you are reading plan documents or school paperwork, telehealth is the word to look for.
If your child is aging out of ECI
Texas Early Childhood Intervention ends on a child's third birthday, and transition planning starts at 27 to 33 months. The school district evaluation that follows is a separate process with its own threshold and timeline, and there is frequently a gap between one ending and the other beginning.
Direct pay means we can start immediately, with no authorization wait and no eligibility threshold to clear. If your child is approaching three, it is worth talking before services end rather than after.
School services and private therapy
In Texas the school team meeting is called an ARD, for Admission, Review and Dismissal. School speech services are decided on educational impact, a narrower test than clinical need, and are usually delivered in a small group.
Private therapy does not replace school services or interfere with them. Many families use both, and we are glad for your school SLP to have our reports.
Payment
TimeWise is direct pay across both states and does not bill insurance or Texas Medicaid, including STAR and STAR Kids. Rates are discussed at the free consultation rather than published. How direct pay and superbills work is on the payment page.