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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the office of inspector general. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 531.001, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subdivision (4-a) to read as follows: |
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(4-a) "Office of inspector general" means the office |
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of inspector general established under Section 531.102. |
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SECTION 2. Section 531.008(c), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(c) The executive commissioner shall establish the |
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following divisions and offices within the commission: |
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(1) the eligibility services division to make |
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eligibility determinations for services provided through the |
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commission or a health and human services agency related to: |
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(A) the child health plan program; |
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(B) the financial assistance program under |
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Chapter 31, Human Resources Code; |
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(C) the medical assistance program under Chapter |
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32, Human Resources Code; |
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(D) the nutritional assistance programs under |
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Chapter 33, Human Resources Code; |
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(E) long-term care services, as defined by |
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Section 22.0011, Human Resources Code; |
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(F) community-based support services identified |
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or provided in accordance with Section 531.02481; and |
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(G) other health and human services programs, as |
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appropriate; |
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(2) [the office of inspector general to perform fraud
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and abuse investigation and enforcement functions as provided by
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Subchapter C and other law;] |
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[(3)] the office of the ombudsman to: |
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(A) provide dispute resolution services for the |
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commission and the health and human services agencies; and |
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(B) perform consumer protection functions |
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related to health and human services; |
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(3) [(4)] a purchasing division as provided by Section |
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531.017; and |
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(4) [(5)] an internal audit division to conduct a |
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program of internal auditing in accordance with [Government Code,] |
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Chapter 2102. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 531.101(a) and (b), Government Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The office of inspector general [commission] may grant |
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an award to an individual who reports activity that constitutes |
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fraud or abuse of funds in the state Medicaid program or reports |
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overcharges in the program if the office [commission] determines |
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that the disclosure results in the recovery of an administrative |
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penalty imposed under Section 32.039, Human Resources Code. The |
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office [commission] may not grant an award to an individual in |
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connection with a report if the office [commission] or attorney |
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general had independent knowledge of the activity reported by the |
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individual. |
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(b) The office of inspector general [commission] shall |
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determine the amount of an award. The award may not exceed five |
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percent of the amount of the administrative penalty imposed under |
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Section 32.039, Human Resources Code, that resulted from the |
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individual's disclosure. In determining the amount of the award, |
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the office [commission] shall consider how important the disclosure |
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is in ensuring the fiscal integrity of the program. The office |
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[commission] may also consider whether the individual participated |
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in the fraud, abuse, or overcharge. |
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SECTION 4. Section 531.102, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a) through (h) and adding Subsections (a-2), |
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(a-3), (h-1), and (l) through (n) to read as follows: |
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(a) The Office of Inspector General [commission, through
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the commission's office of inspector general,] is an agency of this |
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state responsible for the investigation of fraud, waste, and abuse, |
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the enforcement of the laws protecting the public safety, the |
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prevention and detection of crime [responsible for the
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investigation of fraud and abuse] in the provision of health and |
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human services, and the enforcement of state law relating to the |
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provision of those services. |
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(a-1) The office of inspector general is administratively |
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attached to the commission. As necessary for the office to meet its |
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responsibilities under this subchapter or other law, the commission |
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shall: |
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(1) provide the office with administrative support |
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services, including staff, from the commission and from the health |
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and human services agencies; |
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(2) enter into a service level agreement with the |
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office that establishes the performance standards and deliverables |
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with regard to administrative support by the commission and |
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together with the office review the agreement at least annually to |
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ensure that services and deliverables are provided in accordance |
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with the agreement; and |
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(3) request or apply for, and receive for the office, |
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any appropriation or other money from this state or the federal |
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government in accordance with Subsection (n). |
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(a-2) The office [commission] may obtain any information or |
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technology necessary to enable the office to meet its |
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responsibilities under this subchapter or other law. |
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(a-3) [(a-1)] The governor shall appoint an inspector |
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general to serve as director of the office. The inspector general |
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serves a two-year [one-year] term that expires on February 1 of each |
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odd-numbered year. |
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(b) The [commission, in consultation with the] inspector |
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general[,] shall set clear objectives, priorities, and performance |
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standards for the office that emphasize: |
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(1) coordinating investigative efforts to |
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aggressively recover money; |
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(2) allocating resources to cases that have the |
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strongest supportive evidence and the greatest potential for |
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recovery of money; and |
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(3) maximizing opportunities for referral of cases to |
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the office of the attorney general in accordance with Section |
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531.103. |
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(c) The inspector general [commission] shall train office |
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staff whose duties may involve health and human services matters to |
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enable the staff to pursue priority Medicaid and other health and |
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human services fraud, waste, and abuse cases as necessary. |
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(d) The commission shall [may] require employees of health |
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and human services agencies to provide assistance to the office of |
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inspector general in connection with the office's duties relating |
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to the investigation of fraud, waste, and abuse in the provision of |
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health and human services. The office is entitled to access to any |
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information maintained by a health and human services agency or any |
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other state agency, including internal records, relevant to the |
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functions of the office. |
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(e) The [commission, in consultation with the] inspector |
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general[,] by rule shall set specific claims criteria that, when |
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met, require the office to begin an investigation. |
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(f)(1) If the inspector general or any health and human |
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services agency [commission] receives a complaint of Medicaid |
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fraud, waste, or abuse from any source, the office of inspector |
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general must conduct an integrity review to determine whether there |
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is sufficient basis to warrant a full investigation. The |
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commission or a health and human services agency shall immediately |
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forward to the office a complaint received by the commission or the |
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agency under this subdivision. An integrity review must begin not |
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later than the 30th day after the date the inspector general |
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[commission] receives a complaint directly or from the commission |
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or a health and human services agency or has reason to believe that |
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fraud, waste, or abuse has occurred. An integrity review shall be |
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completed not later than the 90th day after it began. |
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(2) If the findings of an integrity review give the |
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office of inspector general reason to believe that an incident [of
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fraud or abuse] involving possible criminal conduct has occurred in |
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the Medicaid program, the office must take the following action, as |
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appropriate, not later than the 30th day after the completion of the |
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integrity review: |
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(A) if a provider is suspected of [fraud or abuse
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involving] criminal conduct, the office must refer the case to the |
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state's Medicaid fraud control unit, provided that the criminal |
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referral does not preclude the office from continuing its |
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investigation of the provider, which investigation may lead to the |
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imposition of appropriate administrative or civil sanctions; or |
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(B) if there is reason to believe that a |
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recipient has defrauded the Medicaid program, the inspector general |
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[office] may conduct a full investigation of the suspected fraud. |
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(g)(1) Whenever the office of inspector general learns or |
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has reason to suspect that a provider's records in the Medicaid |
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program are being withheld, concealed, destroyed, fabricated, or in |
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any way falsified, the office shall immediately refer the case to |
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the state's Medicaid fraud control unit. However, such criminal |
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referral does not preclude the office from continuing its |
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investigation of the provider, which investigation may lead to the |
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imposition of appropriate administrative or civil sanctions. |
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(2) In addition to other instances authorized under |
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state or federal law, the office of inspector general shall impose |
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without prior notice a hold on payment of claims for reimbursement |
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submitted by a provider to compel production of records or when |
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requested by the state's Medicaid fraud control unit, as |
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applicable. The office must notify the provider of the hold on |
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payment not later than the fifth working day after the date the |
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payment hold is imposed. |
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(3) On timely written request by a provider subject to |
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a hold on payment under Subdivision (2), other than a hold requested |
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by the state's Medicaid fraud control unit, the office of inspector |
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general shall file a request with the State Office of |
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Administrative Hearings for an expedited administrative hearing |
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regarding the hold. The provider must request an expedited hearing |
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under this subdivision not later than the 10th day after the date |
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the provider receives notice from the office under Subdivision (2). |
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(4) The inspector general [commission] shall adopt |
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rules that allow a provider subject to a hold on payment under |
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Subdivision (2), other than a hold requested by the state's |
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Medicaid fraud control unit, to seek an informal resolution of the |
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issues identified by the office of inspector general in the notice |
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provided under that subdivision. A provider must seek an informal |
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resolution under this subdivision not later than the deadline |
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prescribed by Subdivision (3). A provider's decision to seek an |
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informal resolution under this subdivision does not extend the time |
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by which the provider must request an expedited administrative |
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hearing under Subdivision (3). However, a hearing initiated under |
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Subdivision (3) shall be stayed at the office's request until the |
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informal resolution process is completed. |
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(5) The inspector general [office] shall, in |
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consultation with the state's Medicaid fraud control unit, |
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establish guidelines under which holds on payment or program |
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exclusions: |
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(A) may permissively be imposed on a provider; or |
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(B) shall automatically be imposed on a provider. |
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(h) In addition to performing functions and duties |
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otherwise provided by law, the office of inspector general may: |
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(1) assess administrative penalties otherwise |
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authorized by law on behalf of the commission or a health and human |
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services agency and retain from amounts collected funds sufficient |
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to cover investigative and collection costs; |
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(2) request that the attorney general obtain an |
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injunction to prevent a person from disposing of an asset |
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identified by the office as potentially subject to recovery by the |
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office due to the person's fraud or abuse; |
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(3) provide for coordination between the office and |
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special investigative units formed by managed care organizations |
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under Section 531.113 or entities with which managed care |
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organizations contract under that section; |
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(4) audit the use and effectiveness of state or |
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federal health and human services funds, including contract and |
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grant funds, administered by a person or state [agency receiving
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the funds from a] health and human services agency; |
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(5) conduct investigations relating to the funds |
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described by Subdivision (4); [and] |
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(6) recommend policies promoting economical and |
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efficient administration of the funds described by Subdivision (4) |
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and the prevention and detection of fraud, waste, and abuse in |
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administration of those funds; |
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(7) commission and employ peace officers to carry out |
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duties within the scope of the duties of office of inspector |
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general; and |
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(8) conduct reviews and inspections to protect the |
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public and to detect and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in the |
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provision of health and human services. |
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(h-1) The number of commissioned peace officers employed by |
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the office of inspector general may not exceed 10 percent of the |
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office's full-time equivalent positions. A commissioned peace |
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officer or other designated law enforcement officer employed by the |
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office is not entitled to supplemental benefits from the law |
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enforcement and custodial officer supplemental retirement fund |
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under Title 8. |
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(l) The inspector general shall conduct internal affairs |
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investigations in instances of fraud, waste, and abuse and in |
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instances of misconduct by employees, contractors, subcontractors, |
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and vendors. |
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(m) Notwithstanding Section 531.0055(e) or other law, the |
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inspector general may adopt rules as necessary to administer the |
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functions of the office of inspector general. |
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(n) The inspector general shall submit a budget in |
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accordance with the General Appropriations Act and general law. |
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The inspector general shall submit to the commission a legislative |
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appropriations request or an operating budget, as appropriate. The |
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request or budget submitted is not subject to review, alteration, |
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or modification by the commission or executive commissioner before |
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submission to the Governor's Office of Budget, Planning, and Policy |
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and the Legislative Budget Board. |
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SECTION 5. Section 531.1021(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) The [office of] inspector general, in connection with an |
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investigation conducted by the office of inspector general, [may
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request that the commissioner or the commissioner's designee
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approve the issuance by the office of a subpoena in connection with
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an investigation conducted by the office. If the request is
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approved, the office] may issue a subpoena or request a grand jury |
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subpoena to compel the attendance of a relevant witness or the |
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production, for inspection or copying, of relevant evidence that is |
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in this state. |
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SECTION 6. Sections 531.103(a), (c), and (d), Government |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The [commission, acting through the commission's] |
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office of inspector general[,] and the office of the attorney |
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general shall enter into a memorandum of understanding to develop |
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and implement joint written procedures for processing cases of |
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suspected fraud, waste, or abuse, as those terms are defined by |
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state or federal law, or other violations of state or federal law |
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under the state Medicaid program or other program administered by |
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the commission or a health and human services agency, including the |
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financial assistance program under Chapter 31, Human Resources |
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Code, a nutritional assistance program under Chapter 33, Human |
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Resources Code, and the child health plan program. The memorandum |
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of understanding shall require: |
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(1) the office of inspector general and the office of |
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the attorney general to set priorities and guidelines for referring |
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cases to appropriate state agencies for investigation, |
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prosecution, or other disposition to enhance deterrence of fraud, |
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waste, abuse, or other violations of state or federal law, |
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including a violation of Chapter 102, Occupations Code, in the |
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programs and maximize the imposition of penalties, the recovery of |
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money, and the successful prosecution of cases; |
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(1-a) the office of inspector general to refer each |
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case of suspected provider fraud, waste, or abuse to the office of |
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the attorney general not later than the 20th business day after the |
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date the office of inspector general determines that the existence |
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of fraud, waste, or abuse is reasonably indicated; |
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(1-b) the office of the attorney general to take |
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appropriate action in response to each case referred to the |
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attorney general, which action may include direct initiation of |
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prosecution, with the consent of the appropriate local district or |
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county attorney, direct initiation of civil litigation, referral to |
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an appropriate United States attorney, a district attorney, or a |
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county attorney, or referral to a collections agency for initiation |
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of civil litigation or other appropriate action; |
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(2) the office of inspector general to keep detailed |
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records for cases processed by that office or the office of the |
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attorney general, including information on the total number of |
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cases processed and, for each case: |
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(A) the agency and division to which the case is |
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referred for investigation; |
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(B) the date on which the case is referred; and |
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(C) the nature of the suspected fraud, waste, or |
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abuse; |
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(3) the office of inspector general to notify each |
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appropriate division of the office of the attorney general of each |
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case referred by the office of inspector general; |
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(4) the office of the attorney general to ensure that |
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information relating to each case investigated by that office is |
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available to each division of the office with responsibility for |
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investigating suspected fraud, waste, or abuse; |
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(5) the office of the attorney general to notify the |
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office of inspector general of each case the attorney general |
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declines to prosecute or prosecutes unsuccessfully; |
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(6) representatives of the office of inspector general |
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and of the office of the attorney general to meet not less than |
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quarterly to share case information and determine the appropriate |
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agency and division to investigate each case; and |
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(7) the office of inspector general and the office of |
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the attorney general to submit information requested by the |
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comptroller about each resolved case for the comptroller's use in |
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improving fraud detection. |
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(c) The office of inspector general [commission] and the |
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office of the attorney general shall jointly prepare and submit a |
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semiannual report to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of |
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the house of representatives, presiding officers of each house and |
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senate committee having jurisdiction over health and human services |
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programs, and comptroller concerning the activities of the office |
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of the attorney general and the office of inspector general [those
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agencies] in detecting and preventing fraud, waste, and abuse under |
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the state Medicaid program or other program administered by the |
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commission or a health and human services agency. The report may be |
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consolidated with any other report relating to the same subject |
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matter the office of inspector general [commission] or office of |
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the attorney general is required to submit under other law. |
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(d) The office of inspector general [commission] and the |
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office of the attorney general may not assess or collect |
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investigation and attorney's fees on behalf of any state agency |
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unless the office of inspector general, the office of the attorney |
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general, or another [other] state agency collects a penalty, |
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restitution, or other reimbursement payment to the state. |
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SECTION 7. Section 531.104(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) The office of inspector general [commission] and the |
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attorney general shall execute a memorandum of understanding under |
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which the office [commission] shall provide investigative support |
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as required to the attorney general in connection with cases under |
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Subchapter B, Chapter 36, Human Resources Code. Under the |
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memorandum of understanding, the office [commission] shall assist |
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in performing preliminary investigations and ongoing |
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investigations for actions prosecuted by the attorney general under |
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Subchapter C, Chapter 36, Human Resources Code. |
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SECTION 8. Section 531.105, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.105. FRAUD DETECTION TRAINING. (a) The office of |
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inspector general [commission] shall develop and implement a |
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program to provide annual training to contractors who process |
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Medicaid claims and appropriate staff of the health and human |
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services agencies [Texas Department of Health and the Texas
|
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Department of Human Services] in identifying potential cases of |
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fraud, waste, or abuse under the state Medicaid program. The |
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training provided to the contractors and staff must include clear |
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criteria that specify: |
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(1) the circumstances under which a person should |
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refer a potential case to the office [commission]; and |
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(2) the time by which a referral should be made. |
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(b) The commission and each health and human services agency |
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[Texas Department of Health and the Texas Department of Human
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Services], in cooperation with the office of inspector general |
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[commission], shall periodically set a goal of the number of |
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potential cases of fraud, waste, or abuse under the state Medicaid |
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program that each agency will attempt to identify and refer to the |
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office [commission]. The office [commission] shall include |
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information on the agencies' goals and the success of each agency in |
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meeting the agency's goal in the report required by Section |
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531.103(c). |
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SECTION 9. Sections 531.106(a), (b), (d), (e), (f), and |
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(g), Government Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The office of inspector general [commission] shall use |
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learning or neural network technology to identify and deter fraud |
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in the Medicaid program throughout this state. |
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(b) The office of inspector general [commission] shall |
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contract with a private or public entity to develop and implement |
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the technology. The office [commission] may require the entity it |
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contracts with to install and operate the technology at locations |
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specified by the office [commission, including commission
|
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offices]. |
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(d) The office of inspector general [commission] shall |
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require each health and human services agency that performs any |
|
aspect of the state Medicaid program to participate in the |
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implementation and use of the technology. |
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(e) The office of inspector general [commission] shall |
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maintain all information necessary to apply the technology to |
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claims data covering a period of at least two years. |
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(f) Cases [The commission shall refer cases] identified by |
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the technology shall be referred to the [commission's] office of |
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inspector general [investigations and enforcement] or the office of |
|
the attorney general, as appropriate. |
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(g) Each month, the learning or neural network technology |
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implemented under this section must match bureau of vital |
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statistics death records with Medicaid claims filed by a provider. |
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If the commission or the office of inspector general determines |
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that a provider has filed a claim for services provided to a person |
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after the person's date of death, as determined by the bureau of |
|
vital statistics death records, [the commission shall refer] the |
|
case shall be referred for investigation to the office of inspector |
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general or the office of the attorney general, as appropriate [to
|
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the commission's office of investigations and enforcement]. |
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SECTION 10. Section 531.1061, Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.1061. FRAUD INVESTIGATION TRACKING SYSTEM. (a) |
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The office of inspector general [commission] shall use an automated |
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fraud investigation tracking system [through the commission's
|
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office of investigations and enforcement] to monitor the progress |
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of an investigation of suspected fraud, waste, abuse, or |
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insufficient quality of care under the state Medicaid program. |
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(b) For each case of suspected fraud, waste, abuse, or |
|
insufficient quality of care identified by the learning or neural |
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network technology required under Section 531.106, the automated |
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fraud investigation tracking system must: |
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(1) receive electronically transferred records |
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relating to the identified case from the learning or neural network |
|
technology; |
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(2) record the details and monitor the status of an |
|
investigation of the identified case, including maintaining a |
|
record of the beginning and completion dates for each phase of the |
|
case investigation; |
|
(3) generate documents and reports related to the |
|
status of the case investigation; and |
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(4) generate standard letters to a provider regarding |
|
the status or outcome of an investigation. |
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(c) The office of inspector general may [commission shall] |
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require each health and human services agency that performs any |
|
aspect of the state Medicaid program to participate in the |
|
implementation and use of the automated fraud investigation |
|
tracking system. |
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SECTION 11. Section 531.1062(a), Government Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) The office of inspector general [commission] shall use |
|
an automated recovery monitoring system to monitor the collections |
|
process for a settled case of fraud, waste, abuse, or insufficient |
|
quality of care under the state Medicaid program. |
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SECTION 12. Sections 531.107(a), (b), and (f), Government |
|
Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The Medicaid and Public Assistance Fraud Oversight Task |
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Force advises and assists the [commission and the commission's] |
|
office of inspector general [investigations and enforcement] in |
|
improving the efficiency of fraud investigations and collections. |
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(b) The task force is composed of a representative of the: |
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(1) attorney general's office, appointed by the |
|
attorney general; |
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(2) comptroller's office, appointed by the |
|
comptroller; |
|
(3) Department of Public Safety, appointed by the |
|
public safety director; |
|
(4) state auditor's office, appointed by the state |
|
auditor; |
|
(5) office of inspector general [commission], |
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appointed by the inspector general [commissioner of health and
|
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human services]; |
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(6) [Texas] Department of Aging and Disability [Human] |
|
Services, appointed by the commissioner of aging and disability |
|
[human] services; |
|
(7) Texas Department of Insurance, appointed by the |
|
commissioner of insurance; and |
|
(8) [Texas] Department of State Health Services, |
|
appointed by the commissioner of state [public] health services. |
|
(f) At least once each fiscal quarter, the [commission's] |
|
office of inspector general [investigations and enforcement] shall |
|
provide to the task force: |
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(1) information detailing: |
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(A) the number of fraud referrals made to the |
|
office and the origin of each referral; |
|
(B) the time spent investigating each case; |
|
(C) the number of cases investigated each month, |
|
by program and region; |
|
(D) the dollar value of each fraud case that |
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results in a criminal conviction; and |
|
(E) the number of cases the office rejects and |
|
the reason for rejection, by region; and |
|
(2) any additional information the task force |
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requires. |
|
SECTION 13. Sections 531.108 and 531.109, Government Code, |
|
are amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.108. FRAUD PREVENTION. (a) The [commission's] |
|
office of inspector general [investigations and enforcement] shall |
|
compile and disseminate accurate information and statistics |
|
relating to: |
|
(1) fraud prevention; and |
|
(2) post-fraud referrals received and accepted or |
|
rejected from the office's [commission's] case management system or |
|
the case management system of a health and human services agency. |
|
(b) The office of inspector general [commission] shall: |
|
(1) aggressively publicize successful fraud |
|
prosecutions and fraud-prevention programs through all available |
|
means, including the use of statewide press releases [issued in
|
|
coordination with the Texas Department of Human Services]; and |
|
(2) ensure that a toll-free hotline for reporting |
|
suspected fraud in programs administered by the office, the |
|
commission, or a health and human services agency is maintained and |
|
promoted[, either] by the office, the commission, or [by] a health |
|
and human services agency. |
|
(c) The office of inspector general [commission] shall |
|
develop a cost-effective method of identifying applicants for |
|
public assistance in counties bordering other states and in |
|
metropolitan areas selected by the office [commission] who are |
|
already receiving benefits in other states. If economically |
|
feasible, the office [commission] may develop a computerized |
|
matching system. |
|
(d) The office of inspector general [commission] shall: |
|
(1) verify automobile information that is used as |
|
criteria for eligibility; and |
|
(2) establish a computerized matching system with the |
|
Texas Department of Criminal Justice to prevent an incarcerated |
|
individual from illegally receiving public assistance benefits |
|
administered by the commission. |
|
(e) The office of inspector general [commission] shall |
|
submit to the governor and Legislative Budget Board a semiannual |
|
report on the results of computerized matching of office and |
|
commission information with information from neighboring states, |
|
if any, and information from the Texas Department of Criminal |
|
Justice. The report may be consolidated with any other report |
|
relating to the same subject matter the office [commission] is |
|
required to submit under other law. |
|
Sec. 531.109. SELECTION AND REVIEW OF CLAIMS. (a) The |
|
office of inspector general [commission] shall annually select and |
|
review a random, statistically valid sample of all claims for |
|
reimbursement under the state Medicaid program, including the |
|
vendor drug program, for potential cases of fraud, waste, or abuse. |
|
(b) In conducting the annual review of claims under |
|
Subsection (a), the office of inspector general [commission] may |
|
directly contact a recipient by telephone or in person, or both, to |
|
verify that the services for which a claim for reimbursement was |
|
submitted by a provider were actually provided to the recipient. |
|
(c) Based on the results of the annual review of claims, the |
|
office of inspector general and the commission shall determine the |
|
types of claims at which office and commission resources for fraud, |
|
waste, and abuse detection should be primarily directed. |
|
SECTION 14. Sections 531.110(a), (c), (d), (e), and (f), |
|
Government Code, are amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) The office of inspector general [commission] shall |
|
conduct electronic data matches for a recipient of assistance under |
|
the state Medicaid program at least quarterly to verify the |
|
identity, income, employment status, and other factors that affect |
|
the eligibility of the recipient. |
|
(c) The commission and each health and human services agency |
|
[Texas Department of Human Services] shall cooperate with the |
|
office of inspector general [commission] by providing data or any |
|
other assistance necessary to conduct the electronic data matches |
|
required by this section. |
|
(d) The office of inspector general [commission] may |
|
contract with a public or private entity to conduct the electronic |
|
data matches required by this section. |
|
(e) The office of inspector general [commission], or a |
|
health and human services agency designated by the office |
|
[commission], by rule shall establish procedures to verify the |
|
electronic data matches conducted by the office [commission] under |
|
this section. Not later than the 20th day after the date the |
|
electronic data match is verified, the commission or the health and |
|
human services agency, as applicable, [Texas Department of Human
|
|
Services] shall remove from eligibility a recipient who is |
|
determined to be ineligible for assistance under the state Medicaid |
|
program. |
|
(f) The office of inspector general [commission] shall |
|
report biennially to the legislature the results of the electronic |
|
data matching program. The report must include a summary of the |
|
number of applicants who were removed from eligibility for |
|
assistance under the state Medicaid program as a result of an |
|
electronic data match conducted under this section. |
|
SECTION 15. Section 531.111, Government Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
Sec. 531.111. FRAUD DETECTION TECHNOLOGY. The office of |
|
inspector general [commission] may contract with a contractor who |
|
specializes in developing technology capable of identifying |
|
patterns of fraud exhibited by Medicaid recipients to: |
|
(1) develop and implement the fraud detection |
|
technology; and |
|
(2) determine if a pattern of fraud by Medicaid |
|
recipients is present in the recipients' eligibility files |
|
maintained by the commission or a health and human services agency |
|
[Texas Department of Human Services]. |
|
SECTION 16. Section 531.113, Government Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
Sec. 531.113. MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATIONS: SPECIAL |
|
INVESTIGATIVE UNITS OR CONTRACTS. (a) Each managed care |
|
organization that provides or arranges for the provision of health |
|
care services to an individual under a government-funded program, |
|
including the Medicaid program and the child health plan program, |
|
shall: |
|
(1) establish and maintain a special investigative |
|
unit within the managed care organization to investigate fraudulent |
|
claims and other types of program waste or abuse by recipients and |
|
service providers; or |
|
(2) contract with another entity for the investigation |
|
of fraudulent claims and other types of program waste or abuse by |
|
recipients and service providers. |
|
(b) Each managed care organization subject to this section |
|
shall adopt a plan to prevent and reduce fraud, waste, and abuse and |
|
annually file that plan with the [commission's] office of inspector |
|
general for approval. The plan must include: |
|
(1) a description of the managed care organization's |
|
procedures for detecting and investigating possible acts of fraud, |
|
waste, or abuse; |
|
(2) a description of the managed care organization's |
|
procedures for the mandatory reporting of possible acts of fraud, |
|
waste, or abuse to the [commission's] office of inspector general; |
|
(3) a description of the managed care organization's |
|
procedures for educating and training personnel to prevent fraud, |
|
waste, and abuse; |
|
(4) the name, address, telephone number, and fax |
|
number of the individual responsible for carrying out the plan; |
|
(5) a description or chart outlining the |
|
organizational arrangement of the managed care organization's |
|
personnel responsible for investigating and reporting possible |
|
acts of fraud, waste, or abuse; |
|
(6) a detailed description of the results of |
|
investigations of fraud, waste, and abuse conducted by the managed |
|
care organization's special investigative unit or the entity with |
|
which the managed care organization contracts under Subsection |
|
(a)(2); and |
|
(7) provisions for maintaining the confidentiality of |
|
any patient information relevant to an investigation of fraud, |
|
waste, or abuse. |
|
(c) If a managed care organization contracts for the |
|
investigation of fraudulent claims and other types of program waste |
|
or abuse by recipients and service providers under Subsection |
|
(a)(2), the managed care organization shall file with the |
|
[commission's] office of inspector general: |
|
(1) a copy of the written contract; |
|
(2) the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and fax |
|
numbers of the principals of the entity with which the managed care |
|
organization has contracted; and |
|
(3) a description of the qualifications of the |
|
principals of the entity with which the managed care organization |
|
has contracted. |
|
(d) The [commission's] office of inspector general may |
|
review the records of a managed care organization to determine |
|
compliance with this section. |
|
(e) The inspector general [commissioner] shall adopt rules |
|
as necessary to accomplish the purposes of this section. |
|
SECTION 17. Sections 531.114(b) and (g), Government Code, |
|
are amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) If after an investigation the office of inspector |
|
general [commission] determines that a person violated Subsection |
|
(a), the office [commission] shall: |
|
(1) notify the person of the alleged violation not |
|
later than the 30th day after the date the office [commission] |
|
completes the investigation and provide the person with an |
|
opportunity for a hearing on the matter; or |
|
(2) refer the matter to the appropriate prosecuting |
|
attorney for prosecution. |
|
(g) The inspector general [commission] shall adopt rules as |
|
necessary to implement this section. |
|
SECTION 18. Section 531.115, Government Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
Sec. 531.115. FEDERAL FELONY MATCH. The office of |
|
inspector general [commission] shall develop and implement a system |
|
to cross-reference data collected for the programs listed under |
|
Section 531.008(c) with the list of fugitive felons maintained by |
|
the federal government. |
|
SECTION 19. Section 533.001, Government Code, is amended by |
|
adding Subdivision (5-a) to read as follows: |
|
(5-a) "Office of inspector general" means the office |
|
of inspector general established under Section 531.102. |
|
SECTION 20. Section 533.005(a), Government Code, is amended |
|
to read as follows: |
|
(a) A contract between a managed care organization and the |
|
commission for the organization to provide health care services to |
|
recipients must contain: |
|
(1) procedures to ensure accountability to the state |
|
for the provision of health care services, including procedures for |
|
financial reporting, quality assurance, utilization review, and |
|
assurance of contract and subcontract compliance; |
|
(2) capitation rates that ensure the cost-effective |
|
provision of quality health care; |
|
(3) a requirement that the managed care organization |
|
provide ready access to a person who assists recipients in |
|
resolving issues relating to enrollment, plan administration, |
|
education and training, access to services, and grievance |
|
procedures; |
|
(4) a requirement that the managed care organization |
|
provide ready access to a person who assists providers in resolving |
|
issues relating to payment, plan administration, education and |
|
training, and grievance procedures; |
|
(5) a requirement that the managed care organization |
|
provide information and referral about the availability of |
|
educational, social, and other community services that could |
|
benefit a recipient; |
|
(6) procedures for recipient outreach and education; |
|
(7) a requirement that the managed care organization |
|
make payment to a physician or provider for health care services |
|
rendered to a recipient under a managed care plan not later than the |
|
45th day after the date a claim for payment is received with |
|
documentation reasonably necessary for the managed care |
|
organization to process the claim, or within a period, not to exceed |
|
60 days, specified by a written agreement between the physician or |
|
provider and the managed care organization; |
|
(8) a requirement that the commission, on the date of a |
|
recipient's enrollment in a managed care plan issued by the managed |
|
care organization, inform the organization of the recipient's |
|
Medicaid certification date; |
|
(9) a requirement that the managed care organization |
|
comply with Section 533.006 as a condition of contract retention |
|
and renewal; |
|
(10) a requirement that the managed care organization |
|
provide the information required by Section 533.012 and otherwise |
|
comply and cooperate with the [commission's] office of inspector |
|
general; |
|
(11) a requirement that the managed care |
|
organization's usages of out-of-network providers or groups of |
|
out-of-network providers may not exceed limits for those usages |
|
relating to total inpatient admissions, total outpatient services, |
|
and emergency room admissions determined by the commission; |
|
(12) if the commission finds that a managed care |
|
organization has violated Subdivision (11), a requirement that the |
|
managed care organization reimburse an out-of-network provider for |
|
health care services at a rate that is equal to the allowable rate |
|
for those services, as determined under Sections 32.028 and |
|
32.0281, Human Resources Code; |
|
(13) a requirement that the organization use advanced |
|
practice nurses in addition to physicians as primary care providers |
|
to increase the availability of primary care providers in the |
|
organization's provider network; |
|
(14) a requirement that the managed care organization |
|
reimburse a federally qualified health center or rural health |
|
clinic for health care services provided to a recipient outside of |
|
regular business hours, including on a weekend day or holiday, at a |
|
rate that is equal to the allowable rate for those services as |
|
determined under Section 32.028, Human Resources Code, if the |
|
recipient does not have a referral from the recipient's primary |
|
care physician; and |
|
(15) a requirement that the managed care organization |
|
develop, implement, and maintain a system for tracking and |
|
resolving all provider appeals related to claims payment, including |
|
a process that will require: |
|
(A) a tracking mechanism to document the status |
|
and final disposition of each provider's claims payment appeal; |
|
(B) the contracting with physicians who are not |
|
network providers and who are of the same or related specialty as |
|
the appealing physician to resolve claims disputes related to |
|
denial on the basis of medical necessity that remain unresolved |
|
subsequent to a provider appeal; and |
|
(C) the determination of the physician resolving |
|
the dispute to be binding on the managed care organization and |
|
provider. |
|
SECTION 21. Section 533.012(c), Government Code, is amended |
|
to read as follows: |
|
(c) The [commission's] office of inspector general |
|
[investigations and enforcement] shall review the information |
|
submitted under this section as appropriate in the investigation of |
|
fraud in the Medicaid managed care program. The comptroller may |
|
review the information in connection with the health care fraud |
|
study conducted by the comptroller. |
|
SECTION 22. Section 2054.376(b), Government Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) This subchapter does not apply to: |
|
(1) the Department of Public Safety's use for criminal |
|
justice or homeland security purposes of a federal database or |
|
network; |
|
(2) a Texas equivalent of a database or network |
|
described by Subdivision (1) that is managed by the Department of |
|
Public Safety; |
|
(3) the uniform statewide accounting system, as that |
|
term is used in Subchapter C, Chapter 2101; |
|
(4) the state treasury cash and treasury management |
|
system; [or] |
|
(5) a database or network managed by the comptroller |
|
to: |
|
(A) collect and process multiple types of taxes |
|
imposed by the state; or |
|
(B) manage or administer fiscal, financial, |
|
revenue, and expenditure activities of the state under Chapter 403 |
|
and Chapter 404; or |
|
(6) the use of a federal or state database or network |
|
by the office of inspector general established under Section |
|
531.102 or by the Health and Human Services Commission for criminal |
|
justice purposes or to maintain information that is confidential by |
|
statute or under federal regulations. |
|
SECTION 23. Section 32.003, Human Resources Code, is |
|
amended by adding Subdivision (5) to read as follows: |
|
(5) "Office of inspector general" means the office |
|
established under Section 531.102, Government Code, that is |
|
responsible for the investigation, review, and audit of possible |
|
fraud, waste, and abuse in the provision of health and human |
|
services and the enforcement of state law relating to the provision |
|
of those services. |
|
SECTION 24. Section 32.0291, Human Resources Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 32.0291. PREPAYMENT REVIEWS AND POSTPAYMENT HOLDS. |
|
(a) Notwithstanding any other law, the office of inspector general |
|
or department may: |
|
(1) perform a prepayment review of a claim for |
|
reimbursement under the medical assistance program to determine |
|
whether the claim involves fraud, waste, or abuse; and |
|
(2) as necessary to perform that review, withhold |
|
payment of the claim for not more than five working days without |
|
notice to the person submitting the claim. |
|
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, the office of inspector |
|
general [department] may impose a postpayment hold on payment of |
|
future claims submitted by a provider if the office [department] |
|
has reliable evidence that the provider has committed fraud, waste, |
|
abuse, or wilful misrepresentation regarding a claim for |
|
reimbursement under the medical assistance program. The office |
|
[department] must notify the provider of the postpayment hold not |
|
later than the fifth working day after the date the hold is imposed. |
|
(c) On timely written request by a provider subject to a |
|
postpayment hold under Subsection (b), the office of inspector |
|
general [department] shall file a request with the State Office of |
|
Administrative Hearings for an expedited administrative hearing |
|
regarding the hold. The provider must request an expedited hearing |
|
under this subsection not later than the 10th day after the date the |
|
provider receives notice from the office of inspector general |
|
[department] under Subsection (b). The office of inspector general |
|
[department] shall discontinue the hold unless the office |
|
[department] makes a prima facie showing at the hearing that the |
|
evidence relied on by the office of inspector general [department] |
|
in imposing the hold is relevant, credible, and material to the |
|
issue of fraud, waste, abuse, or wilful misrepresentation. |
|
(d) The inspector general [department] shall adopt rules |
|
that allow a provider subject to a postpayment hold under |
|
Subsection (b) to seek an informal resolution of the issues |
|
identified by the office of inspector general [department] in the |
|
notice provided under that subsection. A provider must seek an |
|
informal resolution under this subsection not later than the |
|
deadline prescribed by Subsection (c). A provider's decision to |
|
seek an informal resolution under this subsection does not extend |
|
the time by which the provider must request an expedited |
|
administrative hearing under Subsection (c). However, a hearing |
|
initiated under Subsection (c) shall be stayed at the office's |
|
[department's] request until the informal resolution process is |
|
completed. |
|
SECTION 25. Section 32.032, Human Resources Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 32.032. PREVENTION AND DETECTION OF FRAUD, WASTE, AND |
|
ABUSE. The inspector general [department] shall adopt reasonable |
|
rules for minimizing the opportunity for fraud, waste, and abuse, |
|
for establishing and maintaining methods for detecting and |
|
identifying situations in which a question of fraud, waste, or |
|
abuse in the program may exist, and for referring cases where fraud, |
|
waste, or abuse appears to exist to the appropriate law enforcement |
|
agencies for prosecution. |
|
SECTION 26. Sections 32.0321(a) through (d), Human |
|
Resources Code, are amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) The office of inspector general [department] by rule may |
|
recommend to the department and the department by rule may require |
|
that each provider of medical assistance in a provider type that has |
|
demonstrated significant potential for fraud, waste, or abuse to |
|
file with the department a surety bond in a reasonable amount. The |
|
office and the department by rule shall each require a provider of |
|
medical assistance to file with the department a surety bond in a |
|
reasonable amount if the office [department] identifies a pattern |
|
of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse involving criminal conduct |
|
relating to the provider's services under the medical assistance |
|
program that indicates the need for protection against potential |
|
future acts of fraud, waste, or abuse. |
|
(b) The bond under Subsection (a) must be payable to the |
|
department to compensate the department for damages resulting from |
|
or penalties or fines imposed in connection with an act of fraud, |
|
waste, or abuse committed by the provider under the medical |
|
assistance program. |
|
(c) Subject to Subsection (d) or (e), the office of |
|
inspector general and the department by rule may require each |
|
provider of medical assistance that establishes a resident's trust |
|
fund account to post a surety bond to secure the account. The bond |
|
must be payable to the department to compensate residents of the |
|
bonded provider for trust funds that are lost, stolen, or otherwise |
|
unaccounted for if the provider does not repay any deficiency in a |
|
resident's trust fund account to the person legally entitled to |
|
receive the funds. |
|
(d) The office of inspector general and the department may |
|
not require the amount of a surety bond posted for a single facility |
|
provider under Subsection (c) to exceed the average of the total |
|
average monthly balance of all the provider's resident trust fund |
|
accounts for the 12-month period preceding the bond issuance or |
|
renewal date. |
|
SECTION 27. Section 32.0322, Human Resources Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 32.0322. CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD INFORMATION. (a) |
|
The office of inspector general and the department may obtain from |
|
any law enforcement or criminal justice agency the criminal history |
|
record information that relates to a provider under the medical |
|
assistance program or a person applying to enroll as a provider |
|
under the medical assistance program. |
|
(b) The office of inspector general [department] by rule |
|
shall establish criteria for revoking a provider's enrollment or |
|
denying a person's application to enroll as a provider under the |
|
medical assistance program based on the results of a criminal |
|
history check. |
|
SECTION 28. Sections 32.033(d) through (h), Human Resources |
|
Code, are amended to read as follows: |
|
(d) A separate and distinct cause of action in favor of the |
|
state is hereby created, and the office of inspector general |
|
[department] may, without written consent, take direct civil action |
|
in any court of competent jurisdiction. A suit brought under this |
|
section need not be ancillary to or dependent upon any other action. |
|
(e) The [department's] right of recovery of the office of |
|
inspector general is limited to the amount of the cost of medical |
|
care services paid by the department. Other subrogation rights |
|
granted under this section are limited to the cost of the services |
|
provided. |
|
(f) The inspector general [commissioner] may waive the |
|
[department's] right of recovery of the office of inspector general |
|
in whole or in part when the inspector general [commissioner] finds |
|
that enforcement would tend to defeat the purpose of public |
|
assistance. |
|
(g) The office of inspector general [department] may |
|
designate an agent to collect funds the office [department] has a |
|
right to recover from third parties under this section. The |
|
department shall use any funds collected to pay costs of |
|
administering the medical assistance program. |
|
(h) The inspector general [department] may adopt rules for |
|
the enforcement of the office's [its] right of recovery. |
|
SECTION 29. Sections 32.039(c) through (r) and (u) through |
|
(x), Human Resources Code, are amended to read as follows: |
|
(c) A person who commits a violation under Subsection (b) is |
|
liable to the department for: |
|
(1) the amount paid, if any, as a result of the |
|
violation and interest on that amount determined at the rate |
|
provided by law for legal judgments and accruing from the date on |
|
which the payment was made; and |
|
(2) payment of an administrative penalty, assessed by |
|
the office of inspector general, in [of] an amount not to exceed |
|
twice the amount paid, if any, as a result of the violation, plus an |
|
amount: |
|
(A) not less than $5,000 or more than $15,000 for |
|
each violation that results in injury to an elderly person, as |
|
defined by Section 48.002(a)(1) [48.002(1)], a disabled person, as |
|
defined by Section 48.002(a)(8)(A) [48.002(8)(A)], or a person |
|
younger than 18 years of age; or |
|
(B) not more than $10,000 for each violation that |
|
does not result in injury to a person described by Paragraph (A). |
|
(d) Unless the provider submitted information to the |
|
department for use in preparing a voucher that the provider knew or |
|
should have known was false or failed to correct information that |
|
the provider knew or should have known was false when provided an |
|
opportunity to do so, this section does not apply to a claim based |
|
on the voucher if the department calculated and printed the amount |
|
of the claim on the voucher and then submitted the voucher to the |
|
provider for the provider's signature. In addition, the provider's |
|
signature on the voucher does not constitute fraud. The inspector |
|
general [department] shall adopt rules that establish a grace |
|
period during which errors contained in a voucher prepared by the |
|
department may be corrected without penalty to the provider. |
|
(e) In determining the amount of the penalty to be assessed |
|
under Subsection (c)(2), the office of inspector general |
|
[department] shall consider: |
|
(1) the seriousness of the violation; |
|
(2) whether the person had previously committed a |
|
violation; and |
|
(3) the amount necessary to deter the person from |
|
committing future violations. |
|
(f) If after an examination of the facts the office of |
|
inspector general [department] concludes that the person committed |
|
a violation, the office [department] may issue a preliminary report |
|
stating the facts on which it based its conclusion, recommending |
|
that an administrative penalty under this section be imposed and |
|
recommending the amount of the proposed penalty. |
|
(g) The office of inspector general [department] shall give |
|
written notice of the report to the person charged with committing |
|
the violation. The notice must include a brief summary of the |
|
facts, a statement of the amount of the recommended penalty, and a |
|
statement of the person's right to an informal review of the alleged |
|
violation, the amount of the penalty, or both the alleged violation |
|
and the amount of the penalty. |
|
(h) Not later than the 10th day after the date on which the |
|
person charged with committing the violation receives the notice, |
|
the person may either give the office of inspector general |
|
[department] written consent to the report, including the |
|
recommended penalty, or make a written request for an informal |
|
review by the office [department]. |
|
(i) If the person charged with committing the violation |
|
consents to the penalty recommended by the office of inspector |
|
general [department] or fails to timely request an informal review, |
|
the office [department] shall assess the penalty. The office |
|
[department] shall give the person written notice of its action. |
|
The person shall pay the penalty not later than the 30th day after |
|
the date on which the person receives the notice. |
|
(j) If the person charged with committing the violation |
|
requests an informal review as provided by Subsection (h), the |
|
office of inspector general [department] shall conduct the review. |
|
The office [department] shall give the person written notice of the |
|
results of the review. |
|
(k) Not later than the 10th day after the date on which the |
|
person charged with committing the violation receives the notice |
|
prescribed by Subsection (j), the person may make to the office of |
|
inspector general [department] a written request for a hearing. |
|
The hearing must be conducted in accordance with Chapter 2001, |
|
Government Code. |
|
(l) If, after informal review, a person who has been ordered |
|
to pay a penalty fails to request a formal hearing in a timely |
|
manner, the office of inspector general [department] shall assess |
|
the penalty. The office [department] shall give the person written |
|
notice of its action. The person shall pay the penalty not later |
|
than the 30th day after the date on which the person receives the |
|
notice. |
|
(m) Within 30 days after the date on which the inspector |
|
general's [board's] order issued after a hearing under Subsection |
|
(k) becomes final as provided by Section 2001.144, Government Code, |
|
the person shall: |
|
(1) pay the amount of the penalty; |
|
(2) pay the amount of the penalty and file a petition |
|
for judicial review contesting the occurrence of the violation, the |
|
amount of the penalty, or both the occurrence of the violation and |
|
the amount of the penalty; or |
|
(3) without paying the amount of the penalty, file a |
|
petition for judicial review contesting the occurrence of the |
|
violation, the amount of the penalty, or both the occurrence of the |
|
violation and the amount of the penalty. |
|
(n) A person who acts under Subsection (m)(3) within the |
|
30-day period may: |
|
(1) stay enforcement of the penalty by: |
|
(A) paying the amount of the penalty to the court |
|
for placement in an escrow account; or |
|
(B) giving to the court a supersedeas bond that |
|
is approved by the court for the amount of the penalty and that is |
|
effective until all judicial review of the [department's] order of |
|
the inspector general is final; or |
|
(2) request the court to stay enforcement of the |
|
penalty by: |
|
(A) filing with the court a sworn affidavit of |
|
the person stating that the person is financially unable to pay the |
|
amount of the penalty and is financially unable to give the |
|
supersedeas bond; and |
|
(B) giving a copy of the affidavit to the office |
|
of inspector general [commissioner] by certified mail. |
|
(o) If the office of inspector general [commissioner] |
|
receives a copy of an affidavit under Subsection (n)(2), the office |
|
[commissioner] may file with the court, within five days after the |
|
date the copy is received, a contest to the affidavit. The court |
|
shall hold a hearing on the facts alleged in the affidavit as soon |
|
as practicable and shall stay the enforcement of the penalty on |
|
finding that the alleged facts are true. The person who files an |
|
affidavit has the burden of proving that the person is financially |
|
unable to pay the amount of the penalty and to give a supersedeas |
|
bond. |
|
(p) If the person charged does not pay the amount of the |
|
penalty and the enforcement of the penalty is not stayed, the office |
|
of inspector general [department] may forward the matter to the |
|
attorney general for enforcement of the penalty and interest as |
|
provided by law for legal judgments. An action to enforce a penalty |
|
order under this section must be initiated in a court of competent |
|
jurisdiction in Travis County or in the county in which the |
|
violation was committed. |
|
(q) Judicial review of an [a department] order or review by |
|
the office of inspector general under this section assessing a |
|
penalty is under the substantial evidence rule. A suit may be |
|
initiated by filing a petition with a district court in Travis |
|
County, as provided by Subchapter G, Chapter 2001, Government Code. |
|
(r) If a penalty is reduced or not assessed, the department |
|
shall remit to the person the appropriate amount plus accrued |
|
interest if the penalty has been paid or the office of inspector |
|
general shall execute a release of the bond if a supersedeas bond |
|
has been posted. The accrued interest on amounts remitted by the |
|
department under this subsection shall be paid at a rate equal to |
|
the rate provided by law for legal judgments and shall be paid for |
|
the period beginning on the date the penalty is paid to the |
|
department under this section and ending on the date the penalty is |
|
remitted. |
|
(u) Except as provided by Subsection (w), a person found |
|
liable for a violation under Subsection (c) that resulted in injury |
|
to an elderly person, as defined by Section 48.002(a)(1), a |
|
disabled person, as defined by Section 48.002(a)(8)(A), or a person |
|
younger than 18 years of age may not provide or arrange to provide |
|
health care services under the medical assistance program for a |
|
period of 10 years. The inspector general [department] by rule may |
|
provide for a period of ineligibility longer than 10 years. The |
|
period of ineligibility begins on the date on which the |
|
determination that the person is liable becomes final. |
|
(v) Except as provided by Subsection (w), a person found |
|
liable for a violation under Subsection (c) that did not result in |
|
injury to an elderly person, as defined by Section 48.002(a)(1), a |
|
disabled person, as defined by Section 48.002(a)(8)(A), or a person |
|
younger than 18 years of age may not provide or arrange to provide |
|
health care services under the medical assistance program for a |
|
period of three years. The inspector general [department] by rule |
|
may provide for a period of ineligibility longer than three years. |
|
The period of ineligibility begins on the date on which the |
|
determination that the person is liable becomes final. |
|
(w) The inspector general [department] by rule may |
|
prescribe criteria under which a person described by Subsection (u) |
|
or (v) is not prohibited from providing or arranging to provide |
|
health care services under the medical assistance program. The |
|
criteria may include consideration of: |
|
(1) the person's knowledge of the violation; |
|
(2) the likelihood that education provided to the |
|
person would be sufficient to prevent future violations; |
|
(3) the potential impact on availability of services |
|
in the community served by the person; and |
|
(4) any other reasonable factor identified by the |
|
inspector general [department]. |
|
(x) Subsections (b)(1-b) through (1-f) do not prohibit a |
|
person from engaging in: |
|
(1) generally accepted business practices, as |
|
determined by inspector general [department] rule, including: |
|
(A) conducting a marketing campaign; |
|
(B) providing token items of minimal value that |
|
advertise the person's trade name; and |
|
(C) providing complimentary refreshments at an |
|
informational meeting promoting the person's goods or services; |
|
(2) the provision of a value-added service if the |
|
person is a managed care organization; or |
|
(3) other conduct specifically authorized by law, |
|
including conduct authorized by federal safe harbor regulations (42 |
|
C.F.R. Section 1001.952). |
|
SECTION 30. Section 32.070(d), Human Resources Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(d) This section does not apply to a computerized audit |
|
conducted using the Medicaid Fraud Detection Audit System or an |
|
audit or investigation of fraud and abuse conducted by the Medicaid |
|
fraud control unit of the office of the attorney general, the office |
|
of the state auditor, the office of [the] inspector general, or the |
|
Office of Inspector General in the United States Department of |
|
Health and Human Services. |
|
SECTION 31. Section 33.015(e), Human Resources Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(e) The department shall require a person exempted under |
|
this section from making a personal appearance at department |
|
offices to provide verification of the person's entitlement to the |
|
exemption on initial eligibility certification and on each |
|
subsequent periodic eligibility recertification. If the person |
|
does not provide verification and the department considers the |
|
verification necessary to protect the integrity of the food stamp |
|
program, the department shall initiate a fraud referral to the |
|
[department's] office of inspector general established under |
|
Section 531.102, Government Code. |
|
SECTION 32. Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
Art. 2.12. WHO ARE PEACE OFFICERS. The following are peace |
|
officers: |
|
(1) sheriffs, their deputies, and those reserve |
|
deputies who hold a permanent peace officer license issued under |
|
Chapter 1701, Occupations Code; |
|
(2) constables, deputy constables, and those reserve |
|
deputy constables who hold a permanent peace officer license issued |
|
under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code; |
|
(3) marshals or police officers of an incorporated |
|
city, town, or village, and those reserve municipal police officers |
|
who hold a permanent peace officer license issued under Chapter |
|
1701, Occupations Code; |
|
(4) rangers and officers commissioned by the Public |
|
Safety Commission and the Director of the Department of Public |
|
Safety; |
|
(5) investigators of the district attorneys', criminal |
|
district attorneys', and county attorneys' offices; |
|
(6) law enforcement agents of the Texas Alcoholic |
|
Beverage Commission; |
|
(7) each member of an arson investigating unit |
|
commissioned by a city, a county, or the state; |
|
(8) officers commissioned under Section 37.081, |
|
Education Code, or Subchapter E, Chapter 51, Education Code; |
|
(9) officers commissioned by the General Services |
|
Commission; |
|
(10) law enforcement officers commissioned by the |
|
Parks and Wildlife Commission; |
|
(11) airport police officers commissioned by a city |
|
with a population of more than 1.18 million that operates an airport |
|
that serves commercial air carriers; |
|
(12) airport security personnel commissioned as peace |
|
officers by the governing body of any political subdivision of this |
|
state, other than a city described by Subdivision (11), that |
|
operates an airport that serves commercial air carriers; |
|
(13) municipal park and recreational patrolmen and |
|
security officers; |
|
(14) security officers and investigators commissioned |
|
as peace officers by the comptroller; |
|
(15) officers commissioned by a water control and |
|
improvement district under Section 49.216, Water Code; |
|
(16) officers commissioned by a board of trustees |
|
under Chapter 54, Transportation Code; |
|
(17) investigators commissioned by the Texas Medical |
|
[State] Board [of Medical Examiners]; |
|
(18) officers commissioned by the board of managers of |
|
the Dallas County Hospital District, the Tarrant County Hospital |
|
District, or the Bexar County Hospital District under Section |
|
281.057, Health and Safety Code; |
|
(19) county park rangers commissioned under |
|
Subchapter E, Chapter 351, Local Government Code; |
|
(20) investigators employed by the Texas Racing |
|
Commission; |
|
(21) officers commissioned under Chapter 554, |
|
Occupations Code; |
|
(22) officers commissioned by the governing body of a |
|
metropolitan rapid transit authority under Section 451.108, |
|
Transportation Code, or by a regional transportation authority |
|
under Section 452.110, Transportation Code; |
|
(23) investigators commissioned by the attorney |
|
general under Section 402.009, Government Code; |
|
(24) security officers and investigators commissioned |
|
as peace officers under Chapter 466, Government Code; |
|
(25) an officer employed by the [Texas] Department of |
|
State Health Services under Section 431.2471, Health and Safety |
|
Code; |
|
(26) officers appointed by an appellate court under |
|
Subchapter F, Chapter 53, Government Code; |
|
(27) officers commissioned by the state fire marshal |
|
under Chapter 417, Government Code; |
|
(28) an investigator commissioned by the commissioner |
|
of insurance under Section 701.104 [Article 1.10D], Insurance Code; |
|
(29) apprehension specialists commissioned by the |
|
Texas Youth Commission as officers under Section 61.0931, Human |
|
Resources Code; |
|
(30) officers appointed by the executive director of |
|
the Texas Department of Criminal Justice under Section 493.019, |
|
Government Code; |
|
(31) investigators commissioned by the Commission on |
|
Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education under Section |
|
1701.160, Occupations Code; |
|
(32) commission investigators commissioned by the |
|
Texas [Commission on] Private Security Board under Section |
|
1702.061(f), Occupations Code; |
|
(33) the fire marshal and any officers, inspectors, or |
|
investigators commissioned by an emergency services district under |
|
Chapter 775, Health and Safety Code; [and] |
|
(34) officers commissioned by the State Board of |
|
Dental Examiners under Section 254.013, Occupations Code, subject |
|
to the limitations imposed by that section; and |
|
(35) officers commissioned by the office of inspector |
|
general established under Section 531.102, Government Code. |
|
SECTION 33. (a) A rule adopted by the Health and Human |
|
Services Commission or a health and human services agency that is |
|
necessary to accomplish the functions of the office of inspector |
|
general established under Section 531.102, Government Code, as |
|
those duties have been expanded by this Act, is also a rule of the |
|
office and remains in effect as a rule of the office until modified |
|
by the inspector general. |
|
(b) A contract or proceeding related to a function |
|
transferred to the office of inspector general under this Act is |
|
transferred to the office. The transfer does not affect the status |
|
of a proceeding or the validity of a contract. |
|
SECTION 34. (a) All personnel and assets substantially |
|
engaged in the performance of functions transferred to the office |
|
of inspector general under this Act shall be promptly transferred |
|
along with any equipment, documents, and records currently assigned |
|
to or used by that personnel if necessary for the continuing |
|
performance of the functions. Inventory of personnel, equipment, |
|
documents, records, and assets to be transferred under this section |
|
shall be accomplished jointly by the transferring agency and the |
|
inspector general of the Health and Human Services Commission |
|
before the effective date of this Act. All funds previously |
|
appropriated or used, from any source, by the transferring agency |
|
in support of the transferred functions, personnel, equipment, |
|
documents, records, or assets shall also be contemporaneously |
|
transferred to the office. |
|
(b) For purposes of this section, "currently assigned" |
|
means: |
|
(1) all personnel and vacant full-time equivalent |
|
positions assigned to or supporting a transferred function at any |
|
time during the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2005; |
|
and |
|
(2) all inventory and equipment assigned to a |
|
transferred function or transferring personnel or that was in the |
|
possession of transferring personnel on or at any time after |
|
October 31, 2006. |
|
(c) All state and federal funding, including funding for |
|
overhead costs, support costs, and lease or colocation lease costs, |
|
for the functions to be transferred to the office of inspector |
|
general created under this Act shall be reallocated to that office. |
|
(d) For purposes of federal single state agency funding |
|
requirements, any federal funds that may not be appropriated |
|
directly to the office of inspector general shall be transferred |
|
from the single state agency receiving the funds to the office of |
|
inspector general if the funds are intended for a function |
|
performed by the office. |
|
SECTION 35. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |