March 22, 2021 - 9:00am
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Agenda
Hearing.The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will conduct a public hearing on March 22, 2021, at 9:00 a.m., to receive public comments on the proposed payment rates for Home and Community-Based Services - Adult Mental Health (HCBS-AMH) Supported Home Living (SHL) and Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Waiver In-Home Respite. This hearing was originally scheduled for February 17, 2021, but was cancelled due to a weather-related office closure.
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. To join the hearing from your computer, tablet, or smartphone, register for the hearing in advance here.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the hearing. You can also dial in using your phone at (562) 247-8422, access code 818-813-843.
If you are new to GoToWebinar, please download the GoToMeeting app here before the hearing starts.
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 convert the HCBS-AMH SHL hourly payment rate to a 15-minute rate of $5.60, effective April 1, 2021, and convert the YES Waiver In-Home Respite rate to a 15-minute rate of $5.22. Transitioning of the HCBS-AMH SHL and YES Waiver In-home Respite rates to 15 minutes is necessary to implement electronic visit verification.
Methodology and Justification.The proposed payment rate for HCBS-AMH SHL 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. The proposed payment rate for YES Waiver was developed in compliance with HHSC’s established rate methodology in 1 TAC §355.9060, relating to Reimbursement Methodology for the Youth Empowerment Services Waiver Program.
Briefing Packet. A briefing packet describing the proposed payment rates is available here. 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) 424-6637, 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.