The following was obtained from the August 5 issue of the Texas Register:
Public Notice
HHSC intends to submit Amendment 28 to the Texas State Plan for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to ensure that Texas CHIP dental coverage includes dental benefits from each of the required categories of care. See the Texas Register for details.
Adopted Rules
The Texas Board of Nursing adopted new §217.21, Remedial Education Course Providers and Remedial Education Courses, with changes to the proposed text published in the May 27, 2011, issue of the Texas Register. An excerpt:
The Board formally proposed new §217.21 in the May 27, 2011, issue of the Texas Register (36 TexReg 3244). A public hearing on the rule proposal was held on June 29, 2011. In response to written comments on the published proposal and comments received during the public hearing, the Board has changed some of the proposed language in the text of the rule as adopted. The changes, however, do not materially alter issues raised in the proposal, introduce new subject matter, or affect persons other than those previously on notice.
The Board has made changes to §217.21(d)(2)(B), (D), and (E) as adopted in response to comments that the proposed rule was too limiting and would prohibit potentially qualified remedial education course instructors (instructors) from teaching certain remedial education courses (courses). The proposed rule required all instructors to hold a master’s degree in nursing from an approved or accredited institution and to have a minimum of five years of professional nursing experience. A commenter representing an organization pointed out that these requirements would unnecessarily prohibit individuals holding other advanced academic degrees from teaching courses in their fields of expertise. The commenter went on to state that such individuals possess specific knowledge that would be beneficial to a nurse attending a course and that this knowledge may not be possessed by a master’s prepared nurse without the same credentials or experience.
The board adopted amendments to §223.1, Fees, which are necessary to establish new fees for the approval and renewal of remedial education courses. ($300 for the initial approval of a remedial education course and a $100 for the renewal) For more information, see the Texas Register.
