BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 914

By: Kolkhorst

Government Efficiency & Reform

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested observers have noted that Medicaid reimbursement rates for some therapy services provided by certain facilities employing licensed therapists are higher than the rates paid to identically licensed independent therapists who provide the same services, often in the same setting. H.B. 914 seeks to ensure that all therapists practicing under the same license receive a comparable Medicaid reimbursement rate.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 914 amends the Human Resources Code to require the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission, in adopting reasonable rules and standards governing the determination of rates paid for physical, occupational, or speech therapy services under Medicaid, to ensure that providers holding the same professional license and located in the same geographical region are reimbursed for providing a particular service at an equal rate, regardless of the setting in which the service is provided or whether the provider practices as a sole practitioner or is associated with or employed by another provider.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.