BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	S.B. 547
85R6002 GCB-D	By: Kolkhorst
	Health & Human Services
	4/3/2017
	As Filed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Currently, state supported living centers (SSLCs) have the authority to provide services to people in the community, including medical, behavioral health, dental, and other specialized services. The Sunset Advisory Commission's 2015 report on the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) found that SSLCs could be better utilized as a provider of services and recommended that DADS set up a fee schedule for that purpose.

 

S.B. 547 requires the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), by rule, to establish, maintain, and modify a fee schedule of services SSLCs may provide to individuals in the community.

 

As proposed, S.B. 547 amends current law relating to creation of a schedule of support services a state supported living center may provide and procedures for establishing applicable fees for those services.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 161.080, Human Resources Code) of this bill.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 161.080, Human Resources Code, by adding Subsections (c), (d), and (e), as follows:

 

(c) Requires the executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (executive commissioner) by rule to establish a list of services a state supported living center (SSLC) may provide under a contract described by Subsection (a) (relating to contracts to provide services to individuals with developmental disabilities) and establish procedures for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to create, maintain, and amend a schedule of fees that an SSLC may charge for a service included in the list.

 

(d) Requires HHSC, in creating a schedule of fees, to use the reimbursement rate for the applicable service under the Medicaid program or modify that rate with a written justification and after holding a public hearing on the issue of the modification.

 

(e) Authorizes n SSLC, based on negotiations between the center and a managed care organization, as defined by Section 533.001 (Definitions), Government Code, and notwithstanding Subsection (c), to charge a fee for a service other than the fee provided by the schedule of fees created by HHSC under this section.

 

SECTION 2. Requires the executive commissioner, not later than September 1, 2018, to adopt the rules listing services an SSLC may provide under a contract and the procedures for HHSC to create the fee schedule for those services,

 

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.