The following information was obtained from the March 2 issue of the Texas Register:
Public Notices
HHSC intends to submit an amendment to the Texas State Plan for Medical Assistance, which would modify the fee schedules as a result of Medicaid fee adjustments for Clinical Laboratory Services and Physicians and Other Practitioners. HHSC also intends to submit an amendment that would incorporate recent updates to the fee schedules, including adding fees for new services and modifying fees for existing services. See the Texas Register for details about these notices.
Withdrawn Rule
The Texas Medical Board withdraws the proposed amendment to §177.5, which was published in the January 6, 2012, issue of the Texas Register (37 TexReg 39).
Adopted Rules
HHSC adopted an amendment to §358.439, guardianship fee, in Chapter 358, Medicaid Eligibility for the Elderly and People with Disabilities, to reflect its current policy in keeping with S.B. 220. An excerpt:
Senate Bill (S.B.) 220, 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, in part, amended §32.02451 of the Texas Human Resources Code and Section 670 of the Texas Probate Code to address matters related to guardianship-related costs and fees and their application in calculating a co-payment. S.B. 220 codified the provisions of HHSC’s current policy concerning guardianship-related costs and fees, including the methodology for deducting guardianship-related costs and fees and the effective date of the deduction in determining the co-payment. Further, S.B. 220 required the Executive Commissioner of HHSC to adopt rules providing a procedure by which the recipient would submit to HHSC a copy of the court order to receive the deduction.
The Texas Medical Board adopted amendments to §173.1, Profile Contents; and §173.3, Physician-Initiated Updates. Among other things, the changes clarify what utilization review services are subject to reporting on a physician’s profile.
The board also adopted amendments to §177.16 and §177.17, Business Organizations. Among other things, the changes provide that the restrictions on ownership interest apply if a grandfathered entity contracts with a new supervising physician.
For more information about each change, see the Texas Register.