(a) The facility must provide medically-related social services to attain the highest practicable physical, mental, or psychosocial well-being of each resident.
  (1) A facility with more than 120 beds must employ a qualified social worker on a full-time basis.
  (2) A facility of 120 beds or less must employ or contract with a qualified social worker (or in lieu thereof, a social worker who is licensed by the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners, and who meets the requirements of subsection (b)(2) of this section) to provide social services a sufficient amount of time to meet the needs of the residents.
(b) A qualified social worker is an individual who is licensed, including a temporary or provisional license, by the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners as prescribed by Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 505, and who has at least:
  (1) a bachelor's degree in social work, or a bachelor's degree in a human services field, including sociology, gerontology, special education, rehabilitation counseling, and psychology; and
  (2) one year of supervised social work experience in a health care setting working directly with individuals.

Source Note: The provisions of this §554.703 adopted to be effective May 1, 1995, 20 TexReg 2393; amended to be effective August 1, 2000, 25 TexReg 6779; amended to be effective March 24, 2020, 45 TexReg 2025; transferred effective January 15, 2021, as published in the Texas Register December 11, 2020, 45 TexReg 8871