H.B. 1736 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 1736
By: Turner
Human Services
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The current Texas Index for Level of Effort (TILE) reimbursement system
does not always reflect the true resource needs of residents. For example,
certain facilities may receive the lowest rate of reimbursement for
patients with Alzheimer's or related dementia even though caring for these
patients demands more staff time. Thus, the reimbursement methodology does
not  necessarily provide incentives for increased direct care spending in
order to improve the quality of care given to nursing home residents.
House Bill 1736 requires the Health and Human Services Commission and the
Department of Human Services to review the base reimbursement methodology
to determine if the system accurately accounts for the direct care needs
of patients.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority
to a state officer, department, agency or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1736 requires the Health and Human Services Commission, in
conjunction with Department of Human Services, to evaluate the Texas Index
for Level of Effort classification system to determine whether the system
accurately accounts for the care needs of patients with dementia,
including those with Alzheimer's disease. The bill also requires the
Health and Human Services Commission to report the results of the
evaluations to the governor, lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the
house of representatives no later than September 1, 2004. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.