The following information was obtained from the August 10 issue of the Texas Register.
Public Hearings and Notices
HHSC will hold a public hearing on Thursday, September 13, 2012, at 1:30 p.m., to receive comment on proposed Medicaid payment rates for Licensed Midwife Services in a Birthing Center; and primary care services and vaccine administration services provided by physicians and other practitioners as a result of the Affordable Care Act. The hearing will take place in the Lone Star Conference Room of HHSC, Braker Center, Building H, located at 11209 Metric Boulevard, Austin.
HHSC intends to enter into a contract to obtain consultant services to provide information, advice, and assistance to the agency concerning preparation for and responding to a Sunset review.
HHSC also intends to submit to CMS a request to amend the TxHmL waiver program to allow DADS the ability to create the Single Service Authorization System for long-term services and supports to consolidate all waiver individuals’ information and assessments into a common database.
See the Texas Register for details.
Proposed Rules
HHSC proposed to repeal Chapter 371, Medicaid and Other Health and Human Services Fraud and Abuse Program Integrity, Subchapter G, Legal Action Relating to Providers of Medical Assistance, in certain sections of Divisions 1-6. An excerpt:
The proposal repeals Chapter 371, Subchapter G in its entirety. New Chapter 371, Subchapter G is proposed to replace the repealed Subchapter G.
New Division 1 is entitled General Provisions. Section 371.1601 defines the applicability of the rules in Subchapter G. Section 371.1603 sets out the HHSC OIG’s authority to investigate fraud, waste, and abuse within the Texas Medicaid and other HHS programs; to impose appropriate administrative actions and sanctions against persons and providers who commit program violations; and to collect overpayments. Section 371.1605 specifies that Texas Medicaid or other HHS providers are responsible for their own actions or omissions, as well as those of their employees, contractors, and agents and charges them with knowledge of the policies promulgated by Medicaid. Section 371.1607 sets out the definitions that apply to the provisions in new Chapter 371, Subchapter G. The definitions in current §371.1601 were reviewed and replaced where necessary; the list of definitions has been expanded to make the new rules easier to understand. Many definitions that were formerly located within other rules in Subchapter G were moved to new §371.1607.
Adopted Rules
HHSC adopted the repeal of §355.506, Reimbursement Methodology for Consolidated Waiver Program (CWP), because SB 705, 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, abolished the CWP. See the Texas Register for details.
The Board of Nursing adopted amendments to §213.23, Decision of the Board, to clarify the Board’s existing requirements for submitting written materials and making oral presentations regarding a PFD; and facilitate fully informed Board deliberation and decisions. For more information, see the Texas Register.