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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority and duties of the office of inspector |
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general of the Health and Human Services Commission. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 531.1011(4), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(4) "Fraud" means an intentional deception or |
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misrepresentation made by a person with the knowledge that the |
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deception could result in some unauthorized benefit to that person |
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or some other person[, including any act that constitutes fraud
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under applicable federal or state law]. The term does not include |
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unintentional technical, clerical, or administrative errors. |
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SECTION 2. Section 531.102, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (g) and (k), amending Subsection (f) as |
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amended by S.B. 219, Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, |
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2015, and adding Subsections (a-2), (a-3), (a-4), (a-5), (a-6), |
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(f-1), (p), (q), (r), (s), and (t) to read as follows: |
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(a-2) The executive commissioner shall work in consultation |
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with the office whenever the law requires the commissioner to adopt |
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a rule or policy necessary to implement a power or duty of the |
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office, including rules necessary to carry out a responsibility |
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under Subsection (a). |
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(a-3) The executive commissioner is responsible for |
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performing all administrative support services functions necessary |
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to operate the office in the same manner that the executive |
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commissioner is responsible for providing administrative support |
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services functions for the health and human services system, |
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including functions of the office related to the following: |
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(1) procurement processes; |
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(2) contracting policies; |
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(3) information technology services; |
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(4) legal services; |
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(5) budgeting; and |
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(6) personnel and employment policies. |
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(a-4) The commission's internal audit division shall |
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regularly audit the office as part of the commission's internal |
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audit program and shall include the office in the commission's risk |
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assessments. |
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(a-5) The office shall closely coordinate with the |
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executive commissioner and the relevant staff of health and human |
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services system programs that the office oversees in performing |
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functions relating to the prevention of fraud, waste, and abuse in |
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the delivery of health and human services and the enforcement of |
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state law relating to the provision of those services, including |
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audits, utilization reviews, provider education, and data |
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analysis. |
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(a-6) The office shall conduct investigations independent |
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of the executive commissioner and the commission but shall rely on |
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the coordination required by Subsection (a-5) to ensure that the |
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office has a thorough understanding of the health and human |
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services system for purposes of knowledgeably and effectively |
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performing the office's duties under this section and any other |
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law. |
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(f)(1) If the commission receives a complaint or allegation |
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of Medicaid fraud or abuse from any source, the office must conduct |
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a preliminary investigation as provided by Section 531.118(c) to |
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determine whether there is a sufficient basis to warrant a full |
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investigation. A preliminary investigation must begin not later |
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than the 30th day, and be completed not later than the 45th day, |
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after the date the commission receives a complaint or allegation or |
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has reason to believe that fraud or abuse has occurred. [A
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preliminary investigation shall be completed not later than the
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90th day after it began.] |
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(2) If the findings of a preliminary investigation |
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give the office reason to believe that an incident of fraud or abuse |
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involving possible criminal conduct has occurred in Medicaid, the |
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office must take the following action, as appropriate, not later |
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than the 30th day after the completion of the preliminary |
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investigation: |
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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 Medicaid, the office may conduct a full |
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investigation of the suspected fraud, subject to Section |
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531.118(c). |
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(f-1) The office shall complete a full investigation of a |
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complaint or allegation of Medicaid fraud or abuse against a |
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provider not later than the 180th day after the date the full |
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investigation begins unless the office determines that more time is |
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needed to complete the investigation. Except as otherwise provided |
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by this subsection, if the office determines that more time is |
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needed to complete the investigation, the office shall provide |
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notice to the provider who is the subject of the investigation |
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stating that the length of the investigation will exceed 180 days |
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and specifying the reasons why the office was unable to complete the |
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investigation within the 180-day period. The office is not |
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required to provide notice to the provider under this subsection if |
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the office determines that providing notice would jeopardize the |
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investigation. |
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(g)(1) Whenever the office learns or has reason to suspect |
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that a provider's records are being withheld, concealed, destroyed, |
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fabricated, or in any way falsified, the office shall immediately |
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refer the case to the state's Medicaid fraud control |
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unit. However, such criminal referral does not preclude the office |
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from continuing its investigation of the provider, which |
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investigation may lead to the imposition of appropriate |
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administrative or civil sanctions. |
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(2) As [In addition to other instances] authorized |
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under state and [or] federal law, and except as provided by |
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Subdivisions (8) and (9), the office shall impose without prior |
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notice a payment hold on claims for reimbursement submitted by a |
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provider only to compel production of records, when requested by |
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the state's Medicaid fraud control unit, or on the determination |
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that a credible allegation of fraud exists, subject to Subsections |
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(l) and (m), as applicable. The payment hold is a serious |
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enforcement tool that the office imposes to mitigate ongoing |
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financial risk to the state. A payment hold imposed under this |
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subdivision takes effect immediately. The office must notify the |
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provider of the payment hold in accordance with 42 C.F.R. Section |
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455.23(b) and, except as provided by that regulation, not later |
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than the fifth day after the date the office imposes the payment |
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hold. In addition to the requirements of 42 C.F.R. Section |
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455.23(b), the notice of payment hold provided under this |
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subdivision must also include: |
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(A) the specific basis for the hold, including |
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identification of the claims supporting the allegation at that |
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point in the investigation, [and] a representative sample of any |
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documents that form the basis for the hold, and a detailed summary |
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of the office's evidence relating to the allegation; [and] |
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(B) a description of administrative and judicial |
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due process rights and remedies, including the provider's option |
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[right] to seek informal resolution, the provider's right to seek a |
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formal administrative appeal hearing, or that the provider may seek |
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both; and |
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(C) a detailed timeline for the provider to |
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pursue the rights and remedies described in Paragraph (B). |
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(3) On timely written request by a provider subject to |
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a payment hold under Subdivision (2), other than a hold requested by |
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the state's Medicaid fraud control unit, the office shall file a |
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request with the State Office of Administrative Hearings for an |
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expedited administrative hearing regarding the hold not later than |
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the third day after the date the office receives the provider's |
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request. The provider must request an expedited administrative |
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hearing under this subdivision not later than the 10th [30th] day |
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after the date the provider receives notice from the office under |
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Subdivision (2). The State Office of Administrative Hearings shall |
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hold the expedited administrative hearing not later than the 45th |
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day after the date the State Office of Administrative Hearings |
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receives the request for the hearing. In a hearing held under this |
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subdivision [Unless otherwise determined by the administrative law
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judge for good cause at an expedited administrative hearing, the
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state and the provider shall each be responsible for]: |
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(A) the provider and the office are each limited |
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to four hours of testimony, excluding time for responding to |
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questions from the administrative law judge [one-half of the costs
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charged by the State Office of Administrative Hearings]; |
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(B) the provider and the office are each entitled |
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to two continuances under reasonable circumstances [one-half of the
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costs for transcribing the hearing]; and |
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(C) the office is required to show probable cause |
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that the credible allegation of fraud that is the basis of the |
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payment hold has an indicia of reliability and that continuing to |
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pay the provider presents an ongoing significant financial risk to |
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the state and a threat to the integrity of Medicaid [the party's own
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costs related to the hearing, including the costs associated with
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preparation for the hearing, discovery, depositions, and
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subpoenas, service of process and witness expenses, travel
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expenses, and investigation expenses; and
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[(D)
all other costs associated with the hearing
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that are incurred by the party, including attorney's fees]. |
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(4) The office is responsible for the costs of a |
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hearing held under Subdivision (3), but a provider is responsible |
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for the provider's own costs incurred in preparing for the hearing |
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[executive commissioner and the State Office of Administrative
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Hearings shall jointly adopt rules that require a provider, before
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an expedited administrative hearing, to advance security for the
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costs for which the provider is responsible under that
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subdivision]. |
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(5) In a hearing held under Subdivision (3), the |
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administrative law judge shall decide if the payment hold should |
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continue but may not adjust the amount or percent of the payment |
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hold. Notwithstanding any other law, including Section |
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2001.058(e), the decision of the administrative law judge is final |
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and may not be appealed [Following an expedited administrative
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hearing under Subdivision (3), a provider subject to a payment
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hold, other than a hold requested by the state's Medicaid fraud
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control unit, may appeal a final administrative order by filing a
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petition for judicial review in a district court in Travis County]. |
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(6) The executive commissioner, in consultation with |
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the office, shall adopt rules that allow a provider subject to a |
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payment hold under Subdivision (2), other than a hold requested by |
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the state's Medicaid fraud control unit, to seek an informal |
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resolution of the issues identified by the office in the notice |
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provided under that subdivision. A provider must request an |
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initial informal resolution meeting under this subdivision not |
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later than the deadline prescribed by Subdivision (3) for |
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requesting an expedited administrative hearing. On receipt of a |
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timely request, the office shall decide whether to grant the |
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provider's request for an initial informal resolution meeting, and |
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if the office decides to grant the request, the office shall |
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schedule the [an] initial informal resolution meeting [not later
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than the 60th day after the date the office receives the request,
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but the office shall schedule the meeting on a later date, as
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determined by the office, if requested by the provider]. The office |
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shall give notice to the provider of the time and place of the |
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initial informal resolution meeting [not later than the 30th day
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before the date the meeting is to be held]. A provider may request a |
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second informal resolution meeting [not later than the 20th day] |
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after the date of the initial informal resolution meeting. On |
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receipt of a timely request, the office shall decide whether to |
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grant the provider's request for a second informal resolution |
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meeting, and if the office decides to grant the request, the office |
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shall schedule the [a] second informal resolution meeting [not
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later than the 45th day after the date the office receives the
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request, but the office shall schedule the meeting on a later date,
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as determined by the office, if requested by the provider]. The |
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office shall give notice to the provider of the time and place of |
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the second informal resolution meeting [not later than the 20th day
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before the date the meeting is to be held]. A provider must have an |
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opportunity to provide additional information before the second |
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informal resolution meeting for consideration by the office. A |
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provider's decision to seek an informal resolution under this |
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subdivision does not extend the time by which the provider must |
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request an expedited administrative hearing under Subdivision (3). |
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The informal resolution process shall run concurrently with the |
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administrative hearing process, and the informal resolution |
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process shall be discontinued once the State Office of |
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Administrative Hearings issues a final determination on the payment |
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hold. [However, a hearing initiated under Subdivision (3) shall be
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stayed until the informal resolution process is completed.] |
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(7) The office shall, in consultation with the state's |
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Medicaid fraud control unit, establish guidelines under which |
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[payment holds or] program 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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(7-a) The office shall, in consultation with the |
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state's Medicaid fraud control unit, establish guidelines |
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regarding the imposition of payment holds authorized under |
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Subdivision (2). |
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(8) In accordance with 42 C.F.R. Sections 455.23(e) |
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and (f), on the determination that a credible allegation of fraud |
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exists, the office may find that good cause exists to not impose a |
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payment hold, to not continue a payment hold, to impose a payment |
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hold only in part, or to convert a payment hold imposed in whole to |
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one imposed only in part, if any of the following are applicable: |
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(A) law enforcement officials have specifically |
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requested that a payment hold not be imposed because a payment hold |
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would compromise or jeopardize an investigation; |
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(B) available remedies implemented by the state |
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other than a payment hold would more effectively or quickly protect |
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Medicaid funds; |
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(C) the office determines, based on the |
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submission of written evidence by the provider who is the subject of |
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the payment hold, that the payment hold should be removed; |
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(D) Medicaid recipients' access to items or |
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services would be jeopardized by a full or partial payment hold |
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because the provider who is the subject of the payment hold: |
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(i) is the sole community physician or the |
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sole source of essential specialized services in a community; or |
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(ii) serves a large number of Medicaid |
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recipients within a designated medically underserved area; |
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(E) the attorney general declines to certify that |
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a matter continues to be under investigation; or |
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(F) the office determines that a full or partial |
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payment hold is not in the best interests of Medicaid. |
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(9) The office may not impose a payment hold on claims |
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for reimbursement submitted by a provider for medically necessary |
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services for which the provider has obtained prior authorization |
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from the commission or a contractor of the commission unless the |
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office has evidence that the provider has materially misrepresented |
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documentation relating to those services. |
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(k) A final report on an audit or investigation is subject |
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to required disclosure under Chapter 552. All information and |
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materials compiled during the audit or investigation remain |
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confidential and not subject to required disclosure in accordance |
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with Section 531.1021(g). A confidential draft report on an audit |
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or investigation that concerns the death of a child may be shared |
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with the Department of Family and Protective Services. A draft |
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report that is shared with the Department of Family and Protective |
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Services remains confidential and is not subject to disclosure |
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under Chapter 552. |
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(p) The executive commissioner, in consultation with the |
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office, shall adopt rules establishing criteria: |
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(1) for opening a case; |
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(2) for prioritizing cases for the efficient |
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management of the office's workload, including rules that direct |
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the office to prioritize: |
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(A) provider cases according to the highest |
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potential for recovery or risk to the state as indicated through the |
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provider's volume of billings, the provider's history of |
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noncompliance with the law, and identified fraud trends; |
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(B) recipient cases according to the highest |
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potential for recovery and federal timeliness requirements; and |
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(C) internal affairs investigations according to |
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the seriousness of the threat to recipient safety and the risk to |
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program integrity in terms of the amount or scope of fraud, waste, |
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and abuse posed by the allegation that is the subject of the |
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investigation; and |
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(3) to guide field investigators in closing a case |
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that is not worth pursuing through a full investigation. |
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(q) The executive commissioner, in consultation with the |
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office, shall adopt rules establishing criteria for determining |
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enforcement and punitive actions with regard to a provider who has |
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violated state law, program rules, or the provider's Medicaid |
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provider agreement that include: |
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(1) direction for categorizing provider violations |
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according to the nature of the violation and for scaling resulting |
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enforcement actions, taking into consideration: |
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(A) the seriousness of the violation; |
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(B) the prevalence of errors by the provider; |
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(C) the financial or other harm to the state or |
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recipients resulting or potentially resulting from those errors; |
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and |
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(D) mitigating factors the office determines |
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appropriate; and |
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(2) a specific list of potential penalties, including |
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the amount of the penalties, for fraud and other Medicaid |
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violations. |
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(r) The office shall review the office's investigative |
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process, including the office's use of sampling and extrapolation |
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to audit provider records. The review shall be performed by staff |
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who are not directly involved in investigations conducted by the |
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office. |
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(s) At each quarterly meeting of any advisory council |
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responsible for advising the executive commissioner on the |
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operation of the commission, the inspector general shall submit a |
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report to the executive commissioner, the governor, and the |
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legislature on: |
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(1) the office's activities; |
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(2) the office's performance with respect to |
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performance measures established by the executive commissioner for |
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the office; |
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(3) fraud trends identified by the office; and |
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(4) any recommendations for changes in policy to |
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prevent or address fraud, waste, and abuse in the delivery of health |
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and human services in this state. |
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(t) The office shall publish each report required under |
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Subsection (s) on the office's Internet website. |
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SECTION 3. Section 531.1021(a), Government Code, as amended |
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by S.B. No. 219, Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, |
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2015, is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The office of inspector general may issue [request that
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the executive commissioner or the executive commissioner's
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designee approve the issuance by the office of] a subpoena in |
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connection with an investigation conducted by the office. A [If the
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request is approved, the office may issue a] subpoena may be issued |
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under this section to compel the attendance of a relevant witness or |
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the production, for inspection or copying, of relevant evidence |
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that is in this state. |
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SECTION 4. Section 531.113, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d-1) and amending Subsection (e) as amended by |
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S.B. 219, Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, to |
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read as follows: |
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(d-1) The commission's office of inspector general shall: |
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(1) investigate, including by means of regular audits, |
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possible fraud, waste, and abuse by managed care organizations |
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subject to this section; |
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(2) establish requirements for the provision of |
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training to and regular oversight of special investigative units |
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established by managed care organizations under Subsection (a)(1) |
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and entities with which managed care organizations contract under |
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Subsection (a)(2); |
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(3) establish requirements for approving plans to |
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prevent and reduce fraud and abuse adopted by managed care |
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organizations under Subsection (b); |
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(4) evaluate statewide fraud, waste, and abuse trends |
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in Medicaid and communicate those trends to special investigative |
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units and contracted entities to determine the prevalence of those |
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trends; and |
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(5) assist managed care organizations in discovering |
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or investigating fraud, waste, and abuse, as needed. |
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(e) The executive commissioner, in consultation with the |
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office, shall adopt rules as necessary to accomplish the purposes |
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of this section, including rules defining the investigative role of |
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the commission's office of inspector general with respect to the |
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investigative role of special investigative units established by |
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managed care organizations under Subsection (a)(1) and entities |
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with which managed care organizations contract under Subsection |
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(a)(2). The rules adopted under this section must specify the |
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office's role in: |
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(1) reviewing the findings of special investigative |
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units and contracted entities; |
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(2) investigating cases where the overpayment amount |
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sought to be recovered exceeds $100,000; and |
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(3) investigating providers who are enrolled in more |
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than one managed care organization. |
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SECTION 5. Section 531.118(b), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) If the commission receives an allegation of fraud or |
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abuse against a provider from any source, the commission's office |
|
of inspector general shall conduct a preliminary investigation of |
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the allegation to determine whether there is a sufficient basis to |
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warrant a full investigation. A preliminary investigation must |
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begin not later than the 30th day, and be completed not later than |
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the 45th day, after the date the commission receives or identifies |
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an allegation of fraud or abuse. |
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SECTION 6. Section 531.120(b), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) A provider may [must] request an [initial] informal |
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resolution meeting under this section, and on [not later than the
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30th day after the date the provider receives notice under
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Subsection (a).
On] receipt of the [a timely] request, the office |
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shall schedule the [an initial] informal resolution meeting [not
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later than the 60th day after the date the office receives the
|
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request, but the office shall schedule the meeting on a later date,
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as determined by the office if requested by the provider]. The |
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office shall give notice to the provider of the time and place of |
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the [initial] informal resolution meeting [not later than the 30th
|
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day before the date the meeting is to be held]. The informal |
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resolution process shall run concurrently with the administrative |
|
hearing process, and the administrative hearing process may not be |
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delayed on account of the informal resolution process. [A provider
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may request a second informal resolution meeting not later than the
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20th day after the date of the initial informal resolution meeting.
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On receipt of a timely request, the office shall schedule a second
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informal resolution meeting not later than the 45th day after the
|
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date the office receives the request, but the office shall schedule
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the meeting on a later date, as determined by the office if
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requested by the provider.
The office shall give notice to the
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provider of the time and place of the second informal resolution
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meeting not later than the 20th day before the date the meeting is
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to be held.
A provider must have an opportunity to provide
|
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additional information before the second informal resolution
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meeting for consideration by the office.] |
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SECTION 7. Sections 531.1201(a) and (b), Government Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A provider must request an appeal under this section not |
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later than the 30th [15th] day after the date the provider is |
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notified that the commission or the commission's office of |
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inspector general will seek to recover an overpayment or debt from |
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the provider. On receipt of a timely written request by a provider |
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who is the subject of a recoupment of overpayment or recoupment of |
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debt arising out of a fraud or abuse investigation, the office of |
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inspector general shall file a docketing request with the State |
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Office of Administrative Hearings or the Health and Human Services |
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Commission appeals division, as requested by the provider, for an |
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administrative hearing regarding the proposed recoupment amount |
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and any associated damages or penalties. The office shall file the |
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docketing request under this section not later than the 60th day |
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after the date of the provider's request for an administrative |
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hearing or not later than the 60th day after the completion of the |
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informal resolution process, if applicable. |
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(b) The commission's office of inspector general is |
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responsible for the costs of an administrative hearing held under |
|
Subsection (a), but a provider is responsible for the provider's |
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own costs incurred in preparing for the hearing [Unless otherwise
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determined by the administrative law judge for good cause, at any
|
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administrative hearing under this section before the State Office
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of Administrative Hearings, the state and the provider shall each
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be responsible for:
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[(1)
one-half of the costs charged by the State Office
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of Administrative Hearings;
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[(2)
one-half of the costs for transcribing the
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hearing;
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[(3)
the party's own costs related to the hearing,
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including the costs associated with preparation for the hearing,
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discovery, depositions, and subpoenas, service of process and
|
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witness expenses, travel expenses, and investigation expenses; and
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[(4)
all other costs associated with the hearing that
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are incurred by the party, including attorney's fees]. |
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SECTION 8. Section 531.1202, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
|
Sec. 531.1202. RECORD OF AND CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMAL |
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RESOLUTION MEETINGS. (a) On the written request of a provider, |
|
the [The] commission shall, at no expense to the provider who |
|
requested the meeting, provide for an informal resolution meeting |
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held under Section 531.102(g)(6) or 531.120(b) to be recorded. The |
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recording of an informal resolution meeting shall be made available |
|
to the provider who requested the meeting. The commission may not |
|
record an informal resolution meeting unless the commission |
|
receives a written request from a provider under this subsection. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Section 531.1021(g) and except as |
|
provided by this section, an informal resolution meeting held under |
|
Section 531.102(g)(6) or 531.120(b) is confidential, and any |
|
information or materials obtained by the commission's office of |
|
inspector general, including the office's employees or the office's |
|
agents, during or in connection with an informal resolution |
|
meeting, including a recording made under Subsection (a), are |
|
privileged and confidential and not subject to disclosure under |
|
Chapter 552 or any other means of legal compulsion for release, |
|
including disclosure, discovery, or subpoena. |
|
SECTION 9. Subchapter C, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 531.1023, 531.1024, 531.1027, and |
|
531.1203 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 531.1023. COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL CODING GUIDELINES. |
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The commission's office of inspector general, including office |
|
staff and any third party with which the office contracts to perform |
|
coding services, shall comply with federal coding guidelines, |
|
including guidelines for diagnosis-related group (DRG) validation |
|
and related audits. |
|
Sec. 531.1024. HOSPITAL UTILIZATION REVIEWS AND AUDITS: |
|
PROVIDER EDUCATION PROCESS. The executive commissioner shall by |
|
rule develop a process for the commission's office of inspector |
|
general, including office staff and any third party with which the |
|
office contracts to perform coding services, to communicate with |
|
and educate providers about the diagnosis-related group (DRG) |
|
validation criteria that the office uses in conducting hospital |
|
utilization reviews and audits. |
|
Sec. 531.1027. PERFORMANCE AUDITS AND COORDINATION OF AUDIT |
|
ACTIVITIES. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, the commission's |
|
office of inspector general may conduct a performance audit of any |
|
program or project administered or agreement entered into by the |
|
commission or a health and human services agency, including an |
|
audit related to: |
|
(1) contracting procedures of the commission or a |
|
health and human services agency; or |
|
(2) the performance of the commission or a health and |
|
human services agency. |
|
(b) The office shall coordinate the office's audit |
|
activities with those of the commission, including the development |
|
of audit plans, the performance of risk assessments, and the |
|
reporting of findings, to minimize the duplication of audit |
|
activities. In coordinating audit activities with the commission |
|
under this subsection, the office shall: |
|
(1) seek input from the commission and consider |
|
previous audits conducted by the commission for purposes of |
|
determining whether to conduct a performance audit; and |
|
(2) request the results of an audit conducted by the |
|
commission if those results could inform the office's risk |
|
assessment when determining whether to conduct, or the scope of, a |
|
performance audit. |
|
Sec. 531.1203. RIGHTS OF AND PROVISION OF INFORMATION TO |
|
PHARMACIES SUBJECT TO CERTAIN AUDITS. (a) A pharmacy has a right |
|
to request an informal hearing before the commission's appeals |
|
division to contest the findings of an audit conducted by the |
|
commission's office of inspector general or an entity that |
|
contracts with the federal government to audit Medicaid providers |
|
if the findings of the audit do not include findings that the |
|
pharmacy engaged in Medicaid fraud. |
|
(b) In an informal hearing held under this section, staff of |
|
the commission's appeals division, assisted by staff responsible |
|
for the commission's vendor drug program who have expertise in the |
|
law governing pharmacies' participation in Medicaid, make the final |
|
decision on whether the findings of an audit are accurate. Staff of |
|
the commission's office of inspector general may not serve on the |
|
panel that makes the decision on the accuracy of an audit. |
|
(c) In order to increase transparency, the commission's |
|
office of inspector general shall, if the office has access to the |
|
information, provide to pharmacies that are subject to audit by the |
|
office or an entity that contracts with the federal government to |
|
audit Medicaid providers information relating to the extrapolation |
|
methodology used as part of the audit and the methods used to |
|
determine whether the pharmacy has been overpaid under Medicaid in |
|
sufficient detail so that the audit results may be demonstrated to |
|
be statistically valid and are fully reproducible. |
|
SECTION 10. The following provisions are repealed: |
|
(1) Section 531.1201(c), Government Code; and |
|
(2) Section 32.0422(k), Human Resources Code, as |
|
amended by S.B. 219, Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, |
|
2015. |
|
SECTION 11. Notwithstanding Section 531.004, Government |
|
Code, the Sunset Advisory Commission shall conduct a |
|
special-purpose review of the overall performance of the Health and |
|
Human Services Commission's office of inspector general. In |
|
conducting the review, the Sunset Advisory Commission shall |
|
particularly focus on the office's investigations and the |
|
effectiveness and efficiency of the office's processes, as part of |
|
the Sunset Advisory Commission's review of agencies for the 87th |
|
Legislature. The office is not abolished solely because the office |
|
is not explicitly continued following the review. |
|
SECTION 12. Section 531.102, Government Code, as amended by |
|
this Act, applies only to a complaint or allegation of Medicaid |
|
fraud or abuse received by the Health and Human Services Commission |
|
or the commission's office of inspector general on or after the |
|
effective date of this Act. A complaint or allegation received |
|
before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law as it |
|
existed when the complaint or allegation was received, and the |
|
former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
|
SECTION 13. Not later than March 1, 2016, the executive |
|
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission in |
|
consultation with the inspector general of the office of inspector |
|
general shall adopt rules necessary to implement the changes in law |
|
made by this Act to Section 531.102(g)(2), Government Code, |
|
regarding the circumstances in which a payment hold may be placed on |
|
claims for reimbursement submitted by a Medicaid provider. |
|
SECTION 14. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
|
of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
|
Services Commission shall adopt the rules establishing the process |
|
for communicating with and educating providers about |
|
diagnosis-related group (DRG) validation criteria under Section |
|
531.1024, Government Code, as added by this Act. |
|
SECTION 15. Sections 531.120 and 531.1201, Government Code, |
|
as amended by this Act, apply only to a proposed recoupment of an |
|
overpayment or debt of which a provider is notified on or after the |
|
effective date of this Act. A proposed recoupment of an overpayment |
|
or debt that a provider was notified of before the effective date of |
|
this Act is governed by the law as it existed when the provider was |
|
notified, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
|
purpose. |
|
SECTION 16. Not later than March 1, 2016, the executive |
|
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission in |
|
consultation with the inspector general of the office of inspector |
|
general shall adopt rules necessary to implement Section 531.1203, |
|
Government Code, as added by this Act. |
|
SECTION 17. If before implementing any provision of this |
|
Act a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
|
federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
|
the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
|
authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
|
waiver or authorization is granted. |
|
SECTION 18. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |