HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS
FUNDING
Review the state’s readiness to care for aging Texans through various nursing home reimbursement methodologies, including supplemental payments, Medicaid add-on payments and availability of alternative methods of finance. Include methodologies to adequately finance nursing facility Medicaid rates, under managed care capitation that address the quality care needs of Texas nursing home residents and new models of care and care coordination to treat higher incidence of complex conditions.
HOUSE HUMAN SERVICES
MANAGED CARE
Review the state’s oversight and maintenance of statutory compliance of the Star Plus Medicaid managed care markets for both regular Medicaid and Dually Eligible Medicare/Medicaid Demonstration. Evaluate the related data to determine the impact the transition to managed care has had on quality of care, timely payments to providers, and savings to the state.
REGULATORY
Examine ways to streamline the survey process for Texas’ nursing facilities and reduce costs and duplication of unnecessary government regulation. Review the regulatory functions across agencies and departments to make recommendations to remove duplication of effort, reduce regulatory burden, and cost of regulatory compliance.
HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS
Study Texas emergency preparedness in facilitating the transition and admission of patients during the impact of Hurricane Harvey and the following flooding emergency. The study would review the communications process between nursing facility and assisted living providers and state agencies that advised providers on how to meet the needs of long term care residents and keep them safe. Recommend changes and emergency policies to ensure the state is ready to respond with an emergency protocol.