The following was obtained from the July 24 issue of the Texas Register:
Public Notices and Hearings
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) intends to submit an amendment to the Texas State Plan for Medical Assistance, which amends the original notice published in the July 3, 2009, issue of the Texas Register (34 TexReg 4566) by changing the effective date from September 1, 2009 to August 1, 2009. The proposed amendment would adjust payment rates for the Primary Home Care program to increase the minimum wage from $6.55 per hour to $7.25 per hour. See the entry for details.
HHSC intends to submit an amendment of the State of Texas Access Reform PLUS program to the Texas State Plan for Medical Assistance, which would add adult preventive services as a benefit for all eligible adults.
HHSC also intends to submit an amendment of the State of Texas Access Reform program, a 1915(b) waiver program, to the Texas State Plan for Medical Assistance under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, under which annual check-ups for adults will be covered through the State Plan and won’t be included as an additional benefit (b)(3) service in the STAR waiver.
Finally, HHSC will submit an amendment to the Texas State Plan for Medical Assistance under Title XIX of the Social Security Act to clarify reasonable limits on the deduction from income of medical expenses for amounts for necessary medical or remedial care not covered under Medicaid.
For details about the amendments, see the relevant section of the Texas Register.
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HHSC awarded contract 529-06-0425-00039, valued at $38,190, to Health Management Associates to provide consulting services regarding the Assessment of the Primary Care Case Management Waiver.
On August 11, 2009 at 9:30 a.m., HHSC will hold a public hearing on proposed rates for such programs as the Community Based Alternatives (CBA) and Integrated Care Management (ICM) – Personal Assistance Services; CBA and ICM Assisted Living/Residential Care; CBA and ICM Personal Care III; Community Living Assistance and Support Services – Habilitation; and Consolidated Waiver Program – Personal Assistance Services, Day Habilitation, Prevocational Services, Residential Habilitation and Intervener.
HHSC will holding a public hearing on August 18, 2009, at 1:30 p.m., to receive comment on proposed Medicaid payment rates for the following:
- 2009 first and second quarter Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System updates
- Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Medicaid Program 100 and 200 Fee Reviews
- Quarterly Medicaid Fee Reviews
- Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment
- Subcutaneous Injection Ports
- Vision Services – Nonsurgical
- Program for Amplification for Children of Texas
Both hearings will be held in the Lone Star Conference Room of HHSC, Braker Center, Building H, located at 11209 Metric Boulevard, Austin, Texas. See the relevant section of the Texas Register for details about the contract award and the hearings.
Proposed Rules
HHSC proposes to amend §355.723, relating to Reimbursement Methodology for Home and Community-Based Services, under Title 1, Part 15, Chapter 355, Subchapter F, which would enable providers to continue funding foster/companion care coordination using administration and operations costs by determining a stand-alone foster/companion care coordinator component of the foster/companion care rate. For background on the proposed changes, see the relevant section of the Texas Register.
Withdrawn Rules
HHSC has withdrawn a proposed amendment to §355.723 regarding Reimbursement Methodology For Programs Serving Persons With Mental Illness And Mental Retardation, published in the May 8, 2009, issue of the Texas Register (34 TexReg 2732). See the relevant section of the Texas Register for details.
Adopted Rules
HHSC adopted an amendment to §355.307, Reimbursement Setting Methodology, under Title 1 of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Part 15, Chapter 355, Subchapter C, which establishes the reimbursement methodology for the Nursing Facility program, including Medicaid reimbursement rates for pediatric care facilities. See the relevant section of the Texas Register for details.
