The following information was obtained from the May 27 issue of the Texas Register:
Public Notices and Hearings
HHSC will hold a public hearing to receive comment on proposed Medicaid payment rates for Early Childhood Intervention Specialized Rehabilitation Services and Targeted Case Management, Mental Illness and Mental Retardation Service Coordination, and Vitamins and Minerals and Special Review of Procedure Code S-96110.
The meeting will be held on June 15, 2011, at 1:30 p.m., in the Lone Star Conference Room of HHSC, Braker Center, Building H, located at 11209 Metric Boulevard, Austin, Texas.
HHSC intends to submit to CMS one or more waiver requests under sections 1115 and/or 1915 of the Social Security Act related to the transition of all current STAR and STAR+PLUS areas, the inclusion of 28 additional counties effective September 1, 2011, and phase-in of more counties, effective March 1, 2012.
See the Texas Register for more information about these notices.
Proposed Rules
HHSC proposes to repeal §355.113, Reimbursement for Developmental Rehabilitation Therapy Services for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities or Developmental Delays; §§355.8423 – 355.8426, concerning the cost determination process for the Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) program; and §§355.9001 – 355.9010 and §§355.9012 – 355.9014, concerning the reimbursement methodology for ECI case management services. HHSC also proposes amendments to §355.8421, concerning General Reimbursement Information; and §355.8422, concerning Cost Reporting Procedures.
The proposed repeals will help consolidate the rules across Medicaid programs, clarify the reimbursement methodology for ECI, and delete duplicate and outdated information. For more information, see the Texas Register.
The Texas Board of Nursing proposed new §217.21, Remedial Education Course Providers and Remedial Education Courses, which is necessary to create an approval process for remedial education course providers and remedial education courses. The board also proposes to amend §223.1, Fees, which is necessary to create new fees for the approval and renewal of remedial education courses. See the Texas Register for details.
HHSC proposes a new Chapter 3, Administrative Responsibilities of State Facilities, which would establish a separate chapter for state supported living centers and the ICF/MR component of the Rio Grande State Center to distinguish their responsibilities from other entities formerly associated with the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation.
HHSC proposes to repeal Subchapter K, consisting of §§4.501 – 4.509, concerning criminal history and registry clearances, in Chapter 4, Rights and Protection of Individuals Receiving Mental Retardation Services, which would update criminal history and registry clearances rules.
HHSC proposes to repeal Subchapter K, consisting of §§7.501 – 7.505 and 7.507 – 7.518, concerning abuse, neglect, and exploitation in Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation facilities, in Chapter 7, DADS Administrative Responsibilities.
HHSC proposes to amend §§11.2 – 11.4, concerning definitions, quality assurance fee determination methodology, and required reports, in Chapter 11, Quality Assurance Fee, which would restore the threshold to six percent of total revenue, as allowed by federal law.
HHSC proposes to amend §§19.1001, 19.1002, 19.1510, and 19.1601, concerning nursing services, additional nursing services staffing requirements, emergency medication kits, and infection control, in Chapter 19, Nursing Facility Requirements for Licensure and Medicaid, which would make the rule consistent with the federal requirements for posting nurse staff information.
HHSC proposes to amend §30.16, concerning election of hospice care, and §30.60, concerning Medicaid hospice payments and limitations, in Chapter 30, Medicaid Hospice Program, which would allow children under 21 years enrolled in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program to elect hospice treatment services without waiving their rights to treatment for their terminal illnesses.
See the Texas Register for more information.