The following information was obtained from the January 3 issue of the Texas Register.
Public Notice
HHSC intends to submit Transmittal Number 13-017 to the Texas State Plan for Medical Assistance, which would define the methodology for reimbursement adjustments for potentially preventable complications. See the Texas Register for more information.
Proposed Rules
HHSC proposed to amend §355.502, Reimbursement Methodology for Common Services in HCS Waivers, and §355.505, Reimbursement Methodology for the CLASS Program, and §355.723, Reimbursement Methodology for HCS and TxHmL Programs, to add reimbursement methodologies for cognitive rehabilitative therapy.
HHSC proposed new §355.8204, Funding for Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) Monitoring Program, which would describe the method by which HHSC will determine the amount of intergovernmental transfer allocated for DSRIP monitoring and provide for a method by which unused funds will be returned to transferring governmental entities.
Finally, HHSC proposed to amend §355.8548, certain Medicaid fee-for-service pharmacy provider types who are enrolled in a federal drug pricing discount program, to discontinue the methodology that requires covered entities to submit their actual acquisition cost, replacing it with a reimbursement methodology based on the drug ingredient costs for pharmacies enrolled in the section 340B drug-pricing program using HHSC’s best estimate of the 340B Program price. For more information on each entry, see the Texas Register.
The Texas Medical Board proposed to amend subsection (a) of §165.1, Medical Records, to include a new paragraph (8), requiring a provider to include as part of a medical record a summary or documentation memorializing any substantive communication transmitted or received by the physician and relates to the health, condition, diagnosis, treatment, or care of a patient, including, but not limited to, communications that are verbal or recorded and transmitted via any medium.
The board proposed to amend subsection (a)(2)(B) of §172.5, Visiting Physician Temporary Permits, to provide that a Visiting Physician Temporary Permit holder must be supervised by a physician who hasn’t been the subject of a disciplinary order.
The board also proposed to amend subsection (j) of §183.21, Continuing Auricular Acupuncture Education for Acudetox Specialists, to correct citations to other rules.
Finally, the board proposed to amend §189.4, Limitations on Physician Probationer’s Practice, and §189.11, Process for Approval of Physicians, Other Professionals, Group Practices and Institutional Settings. Among the changes: to correct a citation made to another board rule and add a new subsection (e) to the rule, which provides that the executive director or designee may withdraw approval for physician or professionals acting as compliance monitors for the board or a group practice or institutional setting, upon receipt of information that such individuals or settings no longer meet the criteria under the board rules.
See the Texas Register for details about all amendments.
Adopted Rules
- On DADS’ behalf
HHSC adopted amendments Chapter 92, Licensing Standards for Assisted Living Facilities, which add definitions for “abuse,” “neglect,” and “exploitation,” require a facility to provide to a resident’s immediate family, and document the family’s receipt of, the DADS telephone hotline number to report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation, and other changes.