The following information was obtained from the December 27 issue of the Texas Register.
Public Notices
HHSC intend to submit Transmittal Number 13-055 to the Texas State Plan for Medical Assistance to establish home telemonitoring services as a benefit of the Texas Medicaid program.
HHSC also intends to submit to CMS a request for an amendment to DBMD waiver program to update unduplicated count and point-in-time limits, change the name from consumer directed services agencies to financial management services agencies, and other changes.
Finally, HHSC intends to submit Transmittal Number 13-045 to formally submit to the CMS the Form H1205, Texas Streamlined Application, and the Form H1010, Texas Works Application for Assistance – Your Texas Benefits. The Texas Streamlined Application (H1205) is a new health-care only application that can be used for Medicaid, the CHIP, and the federal Health Insurance Marketplace. For more information on each entry, see the Texas Register.
Withdrawn Rules
HHSC withdrew proposed rules in Chapter 366, Medicaid Eligibility For Women, Children, Youth, and Needy Families.
Adopted Rules
HHSC adopted new §§354.2501, 354.2503, 354.2505 and 354.2507, Quality Improvement Process for Clinical Initiatives, which would require the commission to develop and implement a quality improvement process to receive clinical suggestions that improve the quality of care and cost-effectiveness under the Medicaid program, conduct a preliminary review of each suggestion, and conduct an analysis of clinical initiative suggestions that are selected for analysis.
HHSC adopted amendments to Chapter 366, Medicaid Eligibility For Women, Children, Youth, and Needy Families, to implement federally required Medicaid eligibility changes.
HHSC adopted amendments to Chapter 370, CHIP, to implement federally required CHIP eligibility changes.
HHSC adopted amendments to §§371.200, 371.201, 371.203, 371.204, 371.206, and 371.210, Utilization Review of Medicaid and other HHS Programs, to bring rules into compliance with existing policies.
HHSC adopted amendments to Chapter 375, Refugee Cash Assistance and Medical Assistance Programs, to align with new federal income eligibility requirements for Medicaid for pregnant women, children, parents and caretaker relatives, and certain former foster care children.
- On DADS’ behalf
HHSC adopted amendments to §9.177, Certification Principles: Staff Member and Service Provider Requirements; §9.185, Certification Process; §9.577, Corrective Action and Program Provider Sanctions; and §9.579, Certification Principles: Qualified Personnel, in Subchapter D, HCS Program, and Subchapter N, TxHmL Program, in Chapter 9, Intellectual Disability Services–Medicaid State Operating Agency Responsibilities. The changes require HCS program providers to pay a base wage to service providers of supported home living and TxHmL program providers and to service providers of community support. The required base wages are at least $7.50 per hour as of the effective date of the amendments and at least $7.86 per hour effective September 1, 2014.
HHSC adopted amendments to §19.216, License Fees, and §19.2206, General Requirements for a Certified Facility, in Chapter 19, NF Requirements for Licensure and Medicaid Certification, to increase the maximum nursing facility license fee from $250 to $375 and the maximum per bed fee from $10 to $15.
HHSC adopted amendments to §41.505, in Chapter 41, CDS Option, which require an employer or designated representative in the consumer-directed services option to budget a base wage of at least $7.50 per hour as of the effective date of the proposed amendments, and at least $7.86 per hour effective September 1, 2014, for employees providing certain personal attendant services.
HHSC adopted amendments to §49.71 and §49.72, in Chapter 49, Contracting for Community Care Services, to require contractors in certain community service programs to pay or ensure payment of a minimum base wage to employees, contractors, and subcontractors providing certain personal attendant services of at least $7.50 per hour as of the effective date of the proposed amendments and at least $7.86 per hour effective September 1, 2014.