Texas Register Updates: Life Safety Code Inspection, March 15 Hearing

The following information was obtained from the February 19 issue of the Texas Register:

Proposed Rules

HHSC proposes to amend Subchapter B, Definitions, §19.101, concerning definitions; Subchapter D, Facility Construction, §19.330, concerning construction and initial survey of completed construction; and new §19.220, concerning expedited life safety code and physical plant inspection fees, in Chapter 19, Nursing Facility Requirements for Licensure and Medicaid Certification.

The changes would require DADS to give nursing facilities the option of obtaining an expedited Life Safety Code inspection and to authorize DADS to charge a fee based on the size and type of institution to recover the cost of the expedited inspection, and DADS proposed changes to comply. See the relevant section of the Texas Register for details about the proposed changes.

Public Hearing and Notice

HHSC will hold a public hearing on March 15, 2010, at 1 p.m. to receive public comment on a proposed rate for Support Consultation Services in the Integrated Care Management waiver program operated DADS. The hearing will be held in the Lone Star Conference Room of the Health and Human Services Commission, Braker Center, Building H, located at 11209 Metric Boulevard, Austin, Texas.

A briefing package will be available February 26. Contact Meisha Scott by telephone at (512) 491-1445; by fax at (512) 491-1998; or by e-mail at meisha.scott@hhsc.state.tx.us. The briefing package also will be available at the public hearing. See the Texas Register for more information.

HHSC will submit an amendment to the Texas State Plan for Medical Assistance, under Title XIX of the Social Security Act. The amendment would modify the reimbursement methodologies in the Texas Medicaid State Plan as a result of Medicaid fee changes for Physicians and Certain Other Practitioners.

For a copy of the proposed amendment, contact Dan Huggins, Director of Rate Analysis for Acute Care Services, by mail at the Rate Analysis Department, Texas Health and Human Services Commission, P.O. Box 85200, H-400, Austin, Texas 78708-5200; by telephone at (512) 491-1432; by fax at (512) 491-1998; or by e-mail at Dan.Huggins@hhsc.state.tx.us. Copies of the proposals will also be made available at local DADS offices. See the Texas Register for details.