The following bills (which may affect long term care providers) were recently introduced in the 82nd Legislative Session: HB 13: Relating to the Medicaid program and alternate methods of providing health services to low-income persons in this state. HB 2453: Relating to the release of complaint information by the Texas Medical Board to the legislature. HB 2474: Relating to eligibility for and administration of the child health plan program. HB 2478: Relating to the provision of … [Read more...] about House and Senate Bills: Week of 3/7 and 3/11
House and Senate Bills: Week of 2/28 and 3/7
The following bills (which may affect long term care providers) were recently introduced in the 82nd Legislative Session: HB 1947: Relating to the personal needs allowance for certain Medicaid recipients who are residents of long-term care facilities. HB 2041: Relating to alternative methods of dispute resolution in certain disputes between the Department of Aging and Disability Services and an assisted living facility licensed by the department. HB 2079: Relating to the administration … [Read more...] about House and Senate Bills: Week of 2/28 and 3/7
Bill May Open Medicare Data; Medicaid News
The Wall Street Journal reports that lawmakers seek to make public what physicians earn through Medicare, which would overturn a 32-year-old law that bars the public from the data. The rationale behind the move is to identify fraud and waste in the federal program. An excerpt: Currently, the government is effectively barred from releasing how much money any individual doctor earns from Medicare by the 1979 injunction. That injunction stemmed from a lawsuit filed by the Florida Medical … [Read more...] about Bill May Open Medicare Data; Medicaid News
House and Senate Bills: More Week of 2/21
The following bills (which may affect long term care providers) were recently introduced in the 82nd Legislative Session: HB 1700: Relating to the employment of physicians by certain hospitals. HB 1719: Relating to the regulation of health care interpreters. HB 1720: Relating to improving health care provider accountability and efficiency under the child health plan and Medicaid programs. SB 894: Relating to the employment of physicians by certain hospitals. SB 906: Relating to … [Read more...] about House and Senate Bills: More Week of 2/21
TX Register Update: Medical and Nursing Board Changes
From the February 25 issue of the Texas Register: Proposed Rules The Texas Medical Board proposes to amend §164.2, Definitions; §164.4, Board Certification; and §164.6, Required Disclosures on Websites, which would add definitions, establish the process for applicants to have certifying boards approved by the Medical Board for advertising purposes, and provide that this section applies only to licensees who bill for services provided via the web. The board proposes new §166.7, Report of … [Read more...] about TX Register Update: Medical and Nursing Board Changes
House and Senate Bills: Week of 2/21
The following bills (which may affect long term care providers) were recently introduced in the 82nd Legislative Session: HB 1566: Relating to the authority of counties to appoint, contract for, or employ physicians, dentists, or other health care providers for county jails. HB 1567: Relating to the authority of certain counties to appoint, contract for, or employ physicians, dentists, or other health care providers for county jails HB 1653: Relating to the inclusion of optometrists, … [Read more...] about House and Senate Bills: Week of 2/21
House and Senate Bills Filed Week of 2/14
The following bills (which may affect long term care providers) were recently introduced in the 82nd Legislative Session: HB 1320: Relating to the period of continuous eligibility for the child health plan program. HB 1332: Relating to the investigation, prosecution, and punishment of criminal Medicaid fraud and certain other offenses related to Medicaid fraud; providing penalties. HB 1333: Relating to expedited credentialing of certain physicians by managed care plans. HB 1380: … [Read more...] about House and Senate Bills Filed Week of 2/14
Texas Strives for Balance in Medicaid Cuts
Last month, Texas lawmakers released a proposed budget that would reduce Medicaid reimbursement rates by 10 percent. Rates are being reduced to the point that Texas have threatened to withdraw from the program altogether. The Dallas Morning News reports that budget writers are grappling with potential unintended consequences while figuring out which services to cut. For instance, cutting kidney dialysis treatment may cause an increase in hospital patients with severe renal disease. An … [Read more...] about Texas Strives for Balance in Medicaid Cuts
TX Register Updates: Hearing, Board of Nursing Changes
The following information was obtained from the February 11 issue of the Texas Register: Public Hearing and Notice HHSC will hold a public hearing on February 15, 2011, at 1:30 p.m., to receive comments on proposed Medicaid payment rates for Substance Use Disorder - Medication Assisted Therapy for Methadone. 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 intends to submit an … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: Hearing, Board of Nursing Changes
House and Senate Bills
The following bills (which may affect long term care providers) were recently introduced in the 82nd Legislative Session: HB 1034: Relating to unlawful acts against and criminal offenses involving the Medicaid program. SB 494: Relating to the authority of certain local governmental entities to borrow money for a public hospital. SB 521: Relating to the operation of certain managed care plans with respect to health care providers. SB 544: Relating to unlawful acts against and criminal … [Read more...] about House and Senate Bills
