HBA-AMW, CCH H.B. 154 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 154
By: Thompson
Human Services
7/19/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Prior to the 77th Legislature, the Health and Human Services Commission
provided a minimum personal needs allowance of $30 a month to Medicaid
residents in long-term care facilities.  This allowance is meant to enable
residents to purchase simple goods and services that can help maintain
feelings of control over their lives.  House Bill 154 increases the minimum
personal needs allowance to $60 a month.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 154 amends the Human Resources Code to increase from $30 a month
to $60 a month the minimum personal needs allowance set by the Health and
Human Services Commission (HHSC) for Medicaid recipients who are residents
of a convalescent or nursing home or related institution, personal care
facility, ICF-MR facility, or other similar long-term care facility.  The
bill requires HHSC to develop an early warning system to detect fraud in
the handling of the personal needs allowance and other funds of residents
of long-term care facilities.  The bill requires HHSC to ensure that the
rules governing the determination of rates paid for nursing home services
provide for the rate component derived from reported liability insurance
costs to be paid only to those homes that purchase liability insurance
acceptable to HHSC. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.