The following information was obtained from the January 7 issue of the Texas Register:
Public Notices and Hearings
HHSC issued a correction for an error in the December 24, 2010, published under, “Notice of Public Hearing on Proposed Medicaid Payment Rates.” The correction:
“Hearing. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission will conduct a public hearing on January 7, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. to receive public comment on payment rate reductions for the non-state operated Intermediate Care Facilities for Persons with Mental Retardation (ICF/MR) program and the Home and Community-based Services (HCS) and Texas Home Living (TxHmL) waiver programs and the Supported Employment, Out-of-Home Respite in an ICF/MR, Consumer Directed Services Out-of-Home Respite in an ICF/MR and 24-Hour Residential Habilitation services in the Consolidated Waiver Program (CWP) and the Supported Employment and Employment Assistance services in the Deaf-Blind with Multiple Disabilities (DBMD) waiver program. These programs are operated by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS). The hearing will be held in compliance with Human Resources Code §32.0282, which requires a public hearing on proposed payment rates. The public hearing will be held in the Brown-Heatly Building Public Hearing Room, 4900 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas. Persons requiring Americans with Disability Act (ADA) accommodation or auxiliary aids or services should contact Esther Brown by calling (512) 491-1445, at least 72 hours prior to the hearing so appropriate arrangements can be made.”
HHSC will hold a public hearing on February 15, 2011, at 1:30 p.m., to receive comment on proposed Medicaid payment rates for the following:
- Biofeedback Services
- Esophageal pH Probe Monitoring Services
- Implantable Infusion Pump
- Incontinence Supplies – Home Health, Physician Evaluation and Management Services
- 2011 Annual Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System Update
- Quarterly Medicaid Fee Reviews for:
(1) Physician-Administered Drugs;
(2) Temporary National Procedure Codes (“S Codes”);
(3) Non-Clinical Laboratory Services; Type of Service 1 (Medical Services), 2 (Surgery), I (Professional Component) and T (Technical Component); and
(4) Clinical Laboratory Services.
The hearing will take place in the Lone Star Conference Room of HHSC, Braker Center, Building H, located at 11209 Metric Boulevard, Austin, Texas.
HHSC will submit an Transmittal Number 10-091 to the Texas State Plan for Medical Assistance, an amendment to comply with the CMS directives to implement Section 6411 of the Affordable Care Act, Expansion of the Recovery Audit Contractor Program.
HHSC will submit amendments that will allow HHSC to make supplemental payments to physicians employed by or under contract with a physician group practice organized by, under the control of, or under contract with a non-profit, tax-exempt hospital where both the hospital and the practice provide medical education under contract to a state-owned medical school.
Finally, HHSC will submit Amendment 29, which will allow states to provide federally-matched CHIP coverage to the children of public employees effective, March 23, 2010, if the child qualifies for a hardship exception or the state health benefits plan satisfies other requirements of the PPACA.
For details about each public notice and hearing, see the Texas Register.
Proposed Rules
On behalf of DADS, HHSC proposes to repeal Chapter 17, §§17.101, 17.103, and 17.105, concerning Pilot Program for Monitoring Certain Unlicensed Long-Term Care Facilities, to remove from the database rules that expired on September 1, 2007.
HHSC proposes an amendment to §19.1921, concerning general requirements for a nursing facility, in Chapter 19, Nursing Facility Requirements for Licensure and Medicaid Certification, to implement HB 1081, which requires DADS to post on its web site detailed information about resident rights and responsibilities in a nursing facility.
For more information, see the Texas Register.
