TITLE 1.ADMINISTRATION

Part 3. OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

Chapter 54. SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Subchapter A. CHOOSE LIFE GRANT PROGRAM

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) adopts new Chapter 54, Subchapter A, Division 1, §§54.1 - 54.15, concerning General Provisions and Eligibility; Division 2, §§54.20 - 54.24, concerning Grant Application and Decision Process; Division 3, §§54.30 - 54.39, concerning Grant Budget Requirements; Division 4, §54.45 and §54.46, concerning Application Kit; Resolution of Governing Body; Division 5, §§54.50 - 54.59, concerning Grant Administration; and Division 6, §§54.65 - 54.68, concerning Grant Monitoring and Auditing. New Chapter 54, Special Programs, Subchapter A is adopted without changes to the proposed text as published in the March 29, 2013, issue of the Texas Register (38 TexReg 2067) and will not be republished.

The new sections are adopted to implement and administer the OAG's Choose Life grant program.

No comments were received regarding adoption of the new sections during the comment period.

1. GENERAL PROVISIONS AND ELIGIBILITY

1 TAC §§54.1 - 54.15

The new sections are adopted in accordance with Texas Government Code §402.036(e), which authorizes the OAG to adopt rules necessary to establish guidelines for the expenditure of funds under the Choose Life grant program.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on May 6, 2013.

TRD-201301783

Katherine Cary

General Counsel

Office of the Attorney General

Effective date: May 26, 2013

Proposal publication date: March 29, 2013

For further information, please call: (512) 936-1180


2. GRANT APPLICATION AND DECISION PROCESS

1 TAC §§54.20 - 54.24

The new sections are adopted in accordance with Texas Government Code §402.036(e), which authorizes the OAG to adopt rules necessary to establish guidelines for the expenditure of funds under the Choose Life grant program.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on May 6, 2013.

TRD-201301784

Katherine Cary

General Counsel

Office of the Attorney General

Effective date: May 26, 2013

Proposal publication date: March 29, 2013

For further information, please call: (512) 936-1180


3. GRANT BUDGET REQUIREMENTS

1 TAC §§54.30 - 54.39

The new sections are adopted in accordance with Texas Government Code §402.036(e), which authorizes the OAG to adopt rules necessary to establish guidelines for the expenditure of funds under the Choose Life grant program.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on May 6, 2013.

TRD-201301785

Katherine Cary

General Counsel

Office of the Attorney General

Effective date: May 26, 2013

Proposal publication date: March 29, 2013

For further information, please call: (512) 936-1180


4. APPLICATION KIT; RESOLUTION OF GOVERNING BODY

1 TAC §54.45, §54.46

The new sections are adopted in accordance with Texas Government Code §402.036(e), which authorizes the OAG to adopt rules necessary to establish guidelines for the expenditure of funds under the Choose Life grant program.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on May 6, 2013.

TRD-201301786

Katherine Cary

General Counsel

Office of the Attorney General

Effective date: May 26, 2013

Proposal publication date: March 29, 2013

For further information, please call: (512) 936-1180


5. GRANT ADMINISTRATION

1 TAC §§54.50 - 54.59

The new sections are adopted in accordance with Texas Government Code §402.036(e), which authorizes the OAG to adopt rules necessary to establish guidelines for the expenditure of funds under the Choose Life grant program.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on May 6, 2013.

TRD-201301787

Katherine Cary

General Counsel

Office of the Attorney General

Effective date: May 26, 2013

Proposal publication date: March 29, 2013

For further information, please call: (512) 936-1180


6. GRANT MONITORING AND AUDITING

1 TAC §§54.65 - 54.68

The new sections are adopted in accordance with Texas Government Code §402.036(e), which authorizes the OAG to adopt rules necessary to establish guidelines for the expenditure of funds under the Choose Life grant program.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on May 6, 2013.

TRD-201301788

Katherine Cary

General Counsel

Office of the Attorney General

Effective date: May 26, 2013

Proposal publication date: March 29, 2013

For further information, please call: (512) 936-1180


Part 15. TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION

Chapter 355. REIMBURSEMENT RATES

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) adopts an amendment to §355.310, concerning Reimbursement Methodology for Customized Equipment, and new §355.748, concerning Reimbursement Methodology for Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) Level II Evaluations. The amendment and new section are adopted without changes to the proposed text as published in the February 22, 2013, issue of the Texas Register (38 TexReg 1073) and will not be republished.

Background and Justification

The changes to the PASRR program are a result of a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) directive for the State to become fully compliant with federal requirements at Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 483, Subpart C, governing the State's responsibility for preadmission screening and resident review of individuals with mental illness (MI) or an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD). In order to comply with the federal requirements, the Department of Aging and Disability Services has revised the PASRR Level II evaluation to determine if a person believed to have MI or IDD requires the level of care provided by a nursing facility (NF) and, if so, whether they need specialized services for their MI or IDD.

In response to the programmatic changes, new §355.748 is adopted to provide the reimbursement methodology used to determine reimbursement rates for qualified providers conducting the evaluation to identify individuals eligible for PASRR services.

The amendment to §355.310 is adopted to revise the title of the section and to include a reimbursement methodology for customized adaptive aids to codify current agency policies and procedures in rule.

In addition, HHSC is renaming Subchapter F in order to use person first respectful language, replacing "mental retardation" with "an intellectual or developmental disability."

Comments

The 30-day comment period ended March 24, 2013. During this period, HHSC did not receive any comments regarding the proposed amendment or the new rule.

Subchapter C. REIMBURSEMENT METHODOLOGY FOR NURSING FACILITIES

1 TAC §355.310

Statutory Authority

The amendment is adopted under Texas Government Code §531.033, which provides the Executive Commissioner of HHSC with broad rulemaking authority; Texas Human Resources Code §32.021 and Texas Government Code §531.021(a), which provide HHSC with the authority to administer the federal medical assistance (Medicaid) program in Texas; and Texas Government Code §531.021(b), which provides HHSC with the authority to propose and adopt rules governing the determination of Medicaid reimbursements.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on May 2, 2013.

TRD-201301737

Steve Aragon

Chief Counsel

Texas Health and Human Services Commission

Effective date: May 24, 2013

Proposal publication date: February 22, 2013

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6900


Subchapter F. REIMBURSEMENT METHODOLOGY FOR PROGRAMS SERVING PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS OR INTELLECTUAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY

1 TAC §355.748

Statutory Authority

The new rule is adopted under Texas Government Code §531.033, which provides the Executive Commissioner of HHSC with broad rulemaking authority; Texas Human Resources Code §32.021 and Texas Government Code §531.021(a), which provide HHSC with the authority to administer the federal medical assistance (Medicaid) program in Texas; and Texas Government Code §531.021(b), which provides HHSC with the authority to propose and adopt rules governing the determination of Medicaid reimbursements.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on May 2, 2013.

TRD-201301738

Steve Aragon

Chief Counsel

Texas Health and Human Services Commission

Effective date: May 24, 2013

Proposal publication date: February 22, 2013

For further information, please call: (512) 424-6900