TITLE 40.SOCIAL SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE

Part 1. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

Chapter 30. MEDICAID HOSPICE PROGRAM

The Texas Department of Human Services (DHS) adopts amendments to §§30.14, 30.16, 30.20, 30.30, 30.54, and 30.82 in its Medicaid Hospice Program chapter without changes to the proposed text published in the February 15, 2002, issue of the Texas Register (27 TexReg 1126).

Justification for the amendments to physician certification and continuous home care sections is to clarify the current requirement that providers who serve dually eligible individuals must have a Medicaid hospice contract. Dually eligible recipients must elect the Medicare and Medicaid hospice programs at the same time.

Justification for amending §30.14 is to reflect Medicare guidelines. Providers requested the language in subsection (b) to ensure that physicians review information or talk to the referring physician before signing the forms. Many recipients die before a physician makes a visit. Subsections (d) and (f) were also relocated.

Justification for language added to §30.16 and §30.20 is to define dual eligibility. DHS rules only addressed dual eligibility in §30.18, whereas the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicaid Guidelines, §4303, Election, Revocation and Change of Hospice, addresses dual eligibility in three sections. DHS rules were amended to add a reference to dual eligibility to the two additional sections.

Justification for the addition of subsection (d) in §30.30 is to require providers to have a Medicaid contract to receive Medicaid payment, which is a federal requirement. The mailing address was corrected and an overnight mailing address was included at the providers' request in subsection (h).

Justification for amendments to §30.54(a)(4) is to ensure appropriate use of continuous home care at all times. DHS added the definitions in paragraph (a)(6) because there was confusion about what these terms meant. As stipulated in paragraph (a)(8), DHS will not accept faxed requests for extensions of continuous care, because of the large amount of information faxed to the department. The high probability that such information may not actually be faxed or received via fax, combined with the amount of time and resources required to account for such information, directed development of this policy. Subparagraph (a)(8)(A) clarifies the mailing address. Clause (a)(8)(B)(i) was added, because additional documentation is needed when reviewing continuous home care cases. This additional information will document the circumstances that led up to the crisis and show if those symptoms were observed the preceding week. Paragraph (a)(9) was added because current time frames are difficult for DHS staff to meet given current job duties. To avoid confusion, DHS will review one set of documentation per extension as outlined under (a)(10).

Justification for the change to §30.82(d) is to correct the address and include the overnight mailing address, which providers requested.

DHS received no comments regarding adoption of the amendments.

Subchapter B. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

40 TAC §§30.14, 30.16, 30.20

The amendments are 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 amendments implement the Human Resources Code, §§22.001-22.030 and §§32.001-32.042.

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 April 11, 2002.

TRD-200202231

Paul Leche

General Counsel, Legal Services

Texas Department of Human Services

Effective date: May 1, 2002

Proposal publication date: February 15, 2002

For further information, please call: (512) 438-3734


Subchapter C. PROVIDER REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRANCE INTO THE TEXAS MEDICAID HOSPICE PROGRAM; DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS

40 TAC §30.30

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 the Human Resources Code, §§22.001-22.030 and §§32.001-32.042.

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 April 11, 2002.

TRD-200202232

Paul Leche

General Counsel, Legal Services

Texas Department of Human Services

Effective date: May 1, 2002

Proposal publication date: February 15, 2002

For further information, please call: (512) 438-3734


Subchapter E. COVERED SERVICES

40 TAC §30.54

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 the Human Resources Code, §§22.001-22.030 and §§32.001-32.042.

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 April 11, 2002.

TRD-200202233

Paul Leche

General Counsel, Legal Services

Texas Department of Human Services

Effective date: May 1, 2002

Proposal publication date: February 15, 2002

For further information, please call: (512) 438-3734


Subchapter H. ENFORCEMENT

40 TAC §30.82

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 the Human Resources Code, §§22.001-22.030 and §§32.001-32.042.

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 April 11, 2002.

TRD-200202234

Paul Leche

General Counsel, Legal Services

Texas Department of Human Services

Effective date: May 1, 2002

Proposal publication date: February 15, 2002

For further information, please call: (512) 438-3734