TITLE social-services-and-assistance

Part I. Texas Department of Human Services

Chapter 15. Medicaid Eligibility

Subchapter A. General Information

40 TAC §15.100

The Texas Department of Human Services (DHS) adopts an amendment to §15.100, without changes to the proposed text published in the June 26, 1998, issue of the Texas Register (23 TexReg 6699). DHS is withdrawing the proposal to amend §15.502 which was proposed at the same time. Comments received by mail and at a public hearing prompted the need to withdraw these rules for further consideration.

The justification for the amendment is to allow medical practitioners, other than the client's physician, to sign the medical necessity form.

The amendment will function by streamlining the procedure for obtaining a statement of medical necessity.

The department received no comments regarding adoption of this amendment.

The amendment is adopted under the Human Resources Code, Title 2, Chapters 22 and 32, which authorizes the department to administer public and medical assistance programs and under Texas Government Code §531.021, which provides the Health and Human Services Commission with the authority to administer federal medical assistance funds.

The amendment implements §§22.001-22.030 and 32.001-32.042 of the Human Resources Code.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on December 7, 1998.

TRD-9818169

Glenn Scott

General Counsel, Legal Services

Texas Department of Human Services

Effective date: December 27, 1998

Proposal publication date: June 26, 1998

For further information, please call: (512) 438-3765


Chapter 48. Community Care for Aged and Disabled

Subchapter B. Transition to Life in the Community Program

40 TAC §§48.2001-48.2005

The Texas Department of Human Services (DHS) adopts the repeal of §§48.2001 - 48.2005 without changes to the proposed text published in the October 23, 1998 issue of the Texas Register (23 TexReg 10862). The text will not be republished.

Justification for the repeal is that the rule base will be free of obsolete information.

The repeal will function by deleting the rules for Transition to Life in the Community Program, because the program has not been in effect since 1993. Thus the rules are obsolete and serve no useful purpose.

The department received no comments regarding adoption of the repeal.

The repeals are adopted under the Human Resources Code, Title 2, Chapter 22, which authorizes the department to administer public assistance programs.

The repeals implement the Human Resources Code, §§22.001-22.030.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on December 7, 1998.

TRD-9818172

Glenn Scott

General Counsel, Legal Services

Texas Department of Human Services

Effective date: January 1, 1999

Proposal publication date: October 23, 1998

For further information, please call: (512) 438-3765


Chapter 49. Contracting for Community Care Services

40 TAC §§49.1, 49.19, 49.27

The Texas Department of Human Services (DHS) adopts amendments to §§49.1 and 49.19, and adopts new §49.27, in its Contracting for Community Care Services chapter. The amendment to §49.1 and new §49.27 are adopted with changes to the proposed text published in the October 16, 1998, issue of the Texas Register (23 TexReg 10629). The amendment to §49.19 is adopted without changes to the proposed text and will not be republished.

The justification for the amendments and new section is to implement new state mandated contracting requirements related to the year 2000 conversion; clarify the role of religious and charitable organizations; implement the Senate Bill 30 requirements for the development of a new provider contract and the re-enrollment and amendment of existing Medicaid contracts; and correct a reference to corrective action plans as a provider sanction.

The amendments and new section will function by preventing improper or late delivery of services, protecting the religious integrity and character of charitable and religious organizations, and strengthening the ability to prevent provider fraud in the Texas Medicaid program.

No comments were received regarding adoption of the amendments and new section. DHS has initiated several changes to the text for clarification. In §49.1(g) DHS has changed the word "this" before con- tract to "the." In §49.27, DHS has changed the word "this" before contract to "a."

The amendments and new section are adopted under the Human Resources Code, Title 2, Chapters 22 and 32, which provides the department with the authority to administer public and medical assistance pro- grams and under Texas Government Code §531.021, which provides the Health and Human Services Commission with the authority to administer federal medical assistance funds.

The amendments and new section implement §§22.001-22.030 and 32.001-32.042 of the Human Resources Code.

§49.1. General Requirements for Participation.

(a)-(d)

(No change.)

(e)

A provider who is enrolled in the Medicaid program who wants to continue to participate in the program must, in accordance with instructions from the Texas Department of Human Services (DHS), either re-enroll in the Medicaid program under a new contract or agreement approved by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) no later than September 1, 1999, or, at the discretion of DHS, modify the provider's existing contract or agreement using language approved by HHSC no later than September 1, 1999.

(f)

A provider enrolled in the Medicaid program who does not re-enroll in the program under a new contract or agreement or does not modify the existing provider contract or agreement in accordance with the instructions of DHS by September 1, 1999, does not retain eligibility to participate in the Medicaid program.

(g)

A provider agency certifies that the goods and/or services covered by the contract are designed to be used prior to, during, and after calendar year 2000 A.D. The goods and/or services will operate during such time periods without error relating to date data which represents different centuries or more than one century.

§49.27.Religious and Charitable Organizations.

A religious or charitable organization is eligible to be a contractor on the same basis as any other private organization. The contractor retains its independence from state and local governments, including the contractor's control over the definition, development, practice, and expression of its charitable or religious beliefs. Except as provided in federal law, the Texas Department of Human Services (DHS) shall not interpret a contract to require a charitable or religious organization to alter its form of internal governance or remove religious art, icons, scripture, or other symbols. If a religious or charitable organization segregates the government funds provided under the contract, then only the financial assistance provided by these funds will be subject to audit. Neither DHS's selection of a charitable or faith-based contractor of social services nor the expenditure of funds under a contract is an endorsement of the contractor's charitable or religious character practices or expression.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on December 7, 1998.

TRD-9818171

Glenn Scott

General Counsel, Legal Services

Texas Department of Human Services

Effective date: January 1, 1999

Proposal publication date: October 16, 1998

For further information, please call: (512) 438-3765


Part XII. Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners

Chapter 375. Fees

40 TAC §375.2

The Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners adopts the repeal of §375.2, concerning Special Cases, Prorations, and Refunds of Fees, without changes to the proposed text as published in the June 5, 1998 issue of the Texas Register (23 TexReg 5948).

This repeal is being adopted to eliminate obsolete language that is no longer necessary to the operation of the Board.

This repeal removes obsolete language relating to fees.

No comments were received regarding repeal of this section.

The rule is adopted under the Occupational Therapy Practice Act, Texas Civil Statutes, Article 8851, which provides the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners with the authority to adopt rules consistent with this Act to carry out its duties in administering this Act.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on December 7, 1998.

TRD-9818177

Jennifer J. Jones

Executive Assistant

Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners

Effective date: December 27, 1998

Proposal publication date: June 5, 1998

For further information, please call: (512) 305-6900


Chapter 387. Administrative Hearing Procedures

40 TAC §387.1

The Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners adopts the repeal of §387.1, concerning Administrative Hearing Procedures without changes to the proposed text as published in the June 5, 1998 issue of the Texas Register (23 TexReg 5948).

This repeal is being adopted to eliminate obsolete language that is no longer necessary to the operation of the Board.

This repeal removes obsolete language relating to administrative hearings.

No comments were received regarding repeal of this section.

The rule is adopted under the Occupational Therapy Practice Act, Texas Civil Statutes, Article 8851, which provides the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners with the authority to adopt rules consistent with this Act to carry out its duties in administering this Act.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on December 7, 1998.

TRD-9818178

Jennifer J. Jones

Executive Assistant

Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners

Effective date: December 27, 1998

Proposal publication date: June 5, 1998

For further information, please call: (512) 305-6900


Chapter 389. Petition for Adoption of Rules

40 TAC §389.1

The Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners adopts the repeal of §389.1, concerning Petition for Adoption of Rules, without changes to the proposed text as published in the June 5, 1998 issue of the Texas Register (23 TexReg 5949).

This repeal is being adopted to eliminate obsolete language that is no longer necessary to the operation of the Board.

This repeal removes obsolete language relating to petition for adoption of rules.

No comments were received regarding repeal of this section.

The rule is adopted under the Occupational Therapy Practice Act, Texas Civil Statutes, Article 8851, which provides the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners with the authority to adopt rules consistent with this Act to carry out its duties in administering this Act.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on December 7, 1998.

TRD-9818179

Jennifer J. Jones

Executive Assistant

Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners

Effective date: December 27, 1998

Proposal publication date: June 5, 1998

For further information, please call: (512) 305-6900


Part XX. Texas Workforce Commission

Chapter 800. General Administration

Subchapter B. Allocations and Funding

40 TAC §800.56

The Texas Workforce Commission (Commission) adopts amendments to §800.56, concerning allocation of child care funds to local workforce development areas (workforce areas) without changes to proposed text as published in the October 23, 1998, issue of the Texas Register (23 TexReg 10862). The adopted text will not be republished here.

The child care services are provided under Texas Human Resources Code Chapter 44. The adopted rule amendments specify the method the Commission will employ in carrying out the allocation of funds to the workforce areas and the use of those funds provided for in Texas Labor Code, §302.062, for certain child care. The amendments set forth the provisions for budgeting and expending funds for the different types of child care clients to the extent permitted by statutory and regulatory provisions related to the funding sources.

The purpose of the amendments is to allow local workforce development boards (Boards) to have more flexibility in the use of funds at the local level. It is the Commission's intent to allocate funds to workforce areas for the purpose of meeting and exceeding statewide performance measures as set forth in the state General Appropriations Act.

The purpose of the change of the language from "75% of the state median income" to "150% of the federal poverty guidelines" is to utilize the federal poverty level indicators instead of the state median income levels as the mechanism for targeting At-Risk children for child care services in areas of desperate need. The use of the 75% of the state median income level instead of 150% of the federal poverty guidelines to determine allocations to local workforce development areas results in a shifting of funds away from areas of the state that have substantial numbers of children living below or near the poverty level. Use of the state median income level instead of the federal poverty guidelines could result in parents leaving employment to care for children or having to leave their children in unsafe situations, such as unsupervised care, in order to maintain employment.

The "federal poverty guidelines" are formally referenced as "the poverty guidelines updated annually in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under authority of §673(2) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981" or as may be amended.

The "state median income" is published in the 1990 US Census Data, which contains the 1989 median family income data.

The specific amount of funds available for allocation to workforce areas will be determined during the Commission's budgetary process. The amendments are designed to be responsive to the needs of workforce areas, changes in state and federal laws and regulations, and issues that may arise in the further management of workforce training and services by the Commission through the Boards.

The Commission held a public hearing on the proposed rule on November 20, 1998, in Room 644 of the TWC Building at 101 East 15th Street in Austin, Texas.

The Commission received one comment on the rule from the North Central Texas Workforce Board, which was in support of the amendments.

The commenter supported the usage of 150% of the federal poverty level as well as the caveat that funds allocated for Food Stamps Employment and Training may not be used for any other purpose. Further, the commenter supported giving flexibility to the Boards for the prioritization of funding areas as well as the ability to move care dollars to operations in proportion to the increase in the number of children served. Finally, the commenter supported the Board being given the responsibility of assuring that no more than 5% of the total expenditure of funds are used for operations/administration expenses as per federal regulations contained in 45 Federal Register 39989, §98.52.

The Commission appreciates the comment and agrees.

The amendments are adopted under Texas Labor Code, Title 4, which provides the Texas Workforce Commission with the authority to adopt, amend, or repeal such rules as it deems necessary for the effective administration of the Commission's programs.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on December 3, 1998.

TRD-9818123

J. Randel (Jerry) Hill

General Counsel

Texas Workforce Commission

Effective date: December 23, 1998

Proposal publication date: October 23, 1998

For further information, please call: (512) 463-8812