November 30, 2020 - 9:00am



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Agenda

Online Meeting. Due to the declared state of disaster stemming from COVID-19, this hearing will be conducted online only. Physical entry to the hearing will not be permitted.

Join the meeting here.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. You can also dial in using your phone at (914) 614-3221, access code 979-292-988.

If you are new to GoToMeeting, please download the GoToMeeting app here
before the hearing starts.

Hearing. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will conduct a public hearing to receive public comments on proposed payment rates for two separate programs. The first set of proposed payment rates are for Medicaid Community Hospice and the second is for a proposed payment rate for Home and Community-Based Services - Adult Mental Health (HCBS-AMH) in-home respite.

The hearing will be held in compliance with Texas Human Resources Code §32.0282, which requires public notice of and hearings on proposed Medicaid reimbursements. HHSC will archive the public hearing; the archive can be accessed on demand after the hearing here.

Proposal. HHSC proposes to increase payment rates for Medicaid Community Hospice for routine home, continuous home, inpatient respite, and general inpatient care services, effective retroactive to October 1, 2020.

HHSC also proposes to convert the HCBS-AMH daily payment rate to a 15-minute rate of $2.49, effective January 1, 2021. Transitioning of the in-home respite rate to 15 minutes is necessary to implement electronic visit verification.

Methodology and Justification. The increased payment rates for Medicaid Community Hospice for routine home, continuous home, inpatient respite, and general inpatient care services were determined in accordance with the hospice reimbursement methodology located at the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 42, Part 418, Subpart G.

The proposed payment rate for HCBS-AMH was developed in compliance with HHSC’s established rate methodology in Title 1 of the Texas Administrative Code (1 TAC) §355.9070 relating to Reimbursement Methodology for Home and Community-Based Services – Adult Mental Health Program.

Briefing Packet. A briefing packet describing the proposed payment rates will be available here on or after November 13, 2020. Interested parties may also obtain a copy of the briefing packet prior to the hearing by contacting the HHSC Provider Finance Department by telephone at (512) 730-7401, by fax at (512) 730-7475, or by e-mail at RAD-LTSS@hhsc.state.tx.us.

Written Comments. Written comments regarding the payment rates may be submitted in lieu of, or in addition to, oral testimony until 5:00 p.m. the day of the hearing. Written comments may be sent by U.S. mail, overnight mail, special delivery mail, fax, or e-mail.

U.S. Mail
Health and Human Services Commission
Provider Finance Department, Mail Code H-400
P.O. Box 149030
Austin, Texas 78714-9030

Overnight mail or special delivery mail
Health and Human Services Commission
Provider Finance Department, Mail Code H-400
Brown-Heatly Building
4900 North Lamar Blvd.
Austin, Texas 78751-2316

Phone number for package delivery: (512) 730-7401

Fax
Attention: Provider Finance at (512) 730-7475

E-mail
RAD-LTSS@hhsc.state.tx.us

Preferred Communication. During the current state of disaster due to COVID-19, physical forms of communication are checked with less frequency than during normal business operations. For the quickest response, please use email or phone, if possible, for communication with HHSC related to this public hearing.