RECORDING HAS BEEN ENABLED. THE MEETING WILL COME TO ORDER.
[1. Welcome and opening remarks]
[00:00:05]
MAY THE RECORD REFLECT THAT THIS MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL CONVENED AT 10:00 ON JUNE 12TH, 2025. TESSA BUCKLAND, RAGLAN WILL NOW CALL THE ROLL.THANK YOU. MEMBERS, AS I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE REPLY WITH HERE OR PRESENT.
CECILY IRWIN YOUNG PRESENT. MICHELLE ALLETTO.
PRESENT. JORDAN DIXON MORRIS. LISA GLENN. PRESENT.
ON BEHALF OF JORDAN DIXON. THANK YOU. MORRIS MCCREARY J UNIOR.
PRESENT. STEPHANIE MUTH. JENNIFER SHUFORD. PRESENT.
RAYMOND. CHARLES. WINTER. PRESENT. EMILY ZALKOVSKY.
COMMISSIONER YOUNG. LISA GLENN. DEPUTY CHIEF POLICY AND REGULATORY OFFICERS ATTENDING ON BEHALF OF CHIEF JORDAN DIXON, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER JENNIFER SIMS FOR COMMISSIONER STEPHANIE MUTH AND VALERIE MAYS, DEPUTY STATE MEDICAID DIRECTOR ON BEHALF OF CHIEF EMILY ZALKOVSKY.
THANK YOU. THIS CONCLUDES THE ROLL CALL. MISS RAGLAND WILL EXPLAIN THE PROCESS FOR USING THE MICROSOFT TEAMS PLATFORM FOR THIS MEETING. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS TESSA BUCK RAGLAND.
TODAY'S MEETING IS BEING HELD AS A MICROSOFT TEAMS MEETING AS WELL AS AN IN PERSON.
THE MEETING IS BEING WEBCAST LIVE AND IS BEING RECORDED AS A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HHS POLICY AND THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, ALSO KNOWN AS AI. NO TAKERS IS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED IN THIS MEETING.
PRODUCERS WILL NOT ADMIT A BOT OR OTHER AUTONOMOUS AGENT INTO THE MEETING.
FOR THE SAKE OF THOSE VIEWING IN THE WEBCAST AND TO COMPLY WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, WE ASK THAT EACH VIRTUAL ATTENDEE TURN ON YOUR VIDEO CAMERA AND STATE YOUR NAME EACH TIME BEFORE SPEAKING.
ONCE YOU ARE DONE SPEAKING, WE ASK THAT YOU TURN YOUR CAMERAS ON AND PLACE YOUR MICROPHONES ON MUTE.
WHEN YOU'RE FINISHED, SORRY, TURN YOUR CAMERAS OFF AND PLACE YOUR MICROPHONES ON MUTE.
WE PLEASE LEAVE YOUR CAMERAS OFF AND YOUR MICROPHONE MUTED UNTIL YOU NEED TO SPEAK.
WE ALSO ASK THAT MEMBERS, STAFF AND PRESENTERS PARTICIPATING VIRTUALLY.
PLEASE PUT YOUR CELL PHONES ON MUTE OR VIBRATE.
THESE MICROPHONES ARE DIRECTIONAL SO THEY ONLY PICK UP SOUND DIRECTED INTO THE MIC.
WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE PUT YOUR CELL PHONES ON MUTE OR VIBRATE AND IF YOU NEED TO TAKE A CALL, PLEASE STEP OUT OF THE ROOM AND AWAY FROM THE DOOR SO THE SOUND DOES NOT CARRY YOU BACK INTO THE MEETING. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE ABLE TO REGISTER TO PROVIDE ORAL PUBLIC COMMENTS VIRTUALLY OR IN PERSON IN TODAY'S MEETING.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENTS TODAY.
WHO DID NOT PRE-REGISTER TO PROVIDE COMMENTS, OR WHO ARE ATTENDING IN PERSON, SHOULD COMPLETE THE PUBLIC COMMENT REGISTRATION FORM ON THE TABLE OUTSIDE THE DOOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING ROOM.
PLEASE BRING YOUR COMPLETED REGISTRATION FORMS TO THE STAFF AT THE FACILITATORS TABLE.
THE AGENDA AND HANDOUTS FOR TODAY'S MEETINGS CAN BE FOUND ON THE HHS WEBSITE AT I'VE.
YOU WILL CLICK ABOUT IN THE CENTER OF THE WHITE BANNER AT THE TOP, SELECTING MEETINGS AND EVENTS IN THE DROP DOWN MENU, THEN CLICKING THE LINK FOR THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE COMMISSION EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AGENDA.
COMMISSIONER YOUNG, I TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY THANKING OUR STAFF, WHO SPENT THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS WORKING WITH STATE LEGISLATORS AND MONITORING LEGISLATION THAT COULD AFFECT HOW WE ALL PROVIDE SERVICES TO TEXANS. OUR STAFF TRACKED THOUSANDS OF BILLS AND ATTENDED NUMEROUS HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEE HEARINGS.
AND AS THE 89TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE ENDS, WE NOW PREPARE FOR OUR SUNSET REVIEW.
[00:05:09]
THIS IS GOING TO BE A CHANGE. THIS WILL BE DONE TO ACCELERATE THE AGENCY'S RULEMAKING PROCESS AND SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS TO QUICKLY IMPLEMENT LEGISLATION AND OTHER PRIORITIES. MONTHLY MEETINGS ALSO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT ON PROPOSED RULES.LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE SUPPORT FOR SUPPORTING THE HHS MISSION.
THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE VALERIE MAYES, DEPUTY STATE MEDICAID DIRECTOR, TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE REGARDING MEDICAID. THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. MY NAME IS VALERIE MAYES.
STATE MEDICAID DIRECTOR ZUKOFSKY HAD A PREVIOUS COMMITMENT AND IS AWAY ON BUSINESS.
ONE OF THE ITEMS I WANTED TO UPDATE THE COUNCIL ABOUT THIS MORNING IS MEDICAID PROVIDER ENROLLMENT.
HHS IS EXTENDING TWO SIGNIFICANT FLEXIBILITIES FOR REVALIDATION FOR MEDICAID PROVIDERS.
AND SO STARTING THE REVALIDATION HAVE BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAVE BEEN IN PROGRESS AND IN FLIGHT.
AND SO WE'RE EXTENDING REVALIDATION FOR PROVIDERS THAT WERE DUE BETWEEN DECEMBER 13TH OF 2024 THROUGH NOVEMBER 30TH OF 2025. THEY WILL RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL 180 DAYS TO REVALIDATE THEIR STATUS AS A PROVIDER.
ARE PROVIDERS WHO WERE DISENROLLED FOR NOT REVALIDATING TIMELY BETWEEN NOVEMBER 1ST OF 2023 AND DECEMBER 12TH OF 2024, AND THAT SUCCESSFULLY REENROLL BY THIS NEW DEADLINE OF NOVEMBER 30TH OF THIS YEAR WILL RECEIVE A RETROACTIVE ENROLLMENT PERIOD. AND SO WE CONTINUE TO SEE ISSUES WITH PROVIDERS NOT TAKING TIMELY ACTION.
AND OUR PROVIDER ENROLLMENT SYSTEM. THIS INCLUDES A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH OF PHONE CALLS, EMAILS, WEBINARS AND WORKING THROUGH OUR MULTITUDE OF PROVIDER ASSOCIATIONS ACROSS THE STATE.
WE'VE ALSO BEGUN A SERIES OF PROVIDER WORK GROUPS THAT BEGAN IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR TO GATHER INPUT AND IMPROVEMENTS INTO THE PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS AND SYSTEMS. WE CAST A WIDE NET AS A PART OF THIS EFFORT, BECAUSE WE WANT TO GET A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF THE VARIOUS KINDS OF PROVIDERS WE HAVE THAT THE PARTICIPATE IN MEDICAID, AS WELL AS THE DIFFERENT PROFESSIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT REPRESENT THEM.
AND SO THE GOAL OF THESE WORK GROUPS IS TO LEARN WHAT ISSUES ARE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY TO RESOLVE IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE AGENCY CAN PUT FORWARD A PROACTIVE PLAN AT WORKING THROUGH THIS PROCESS MOVING FORWARD.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE ALSO DEPLOYED WERE CHANGES TO THE PROVIDER ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, ALSO KNOWN AS TEAMS, TO CHANGE HOW PROVIDER INFORMATION IS COMMUNICATED FROM OUR AGENCY SYSTEM TO THE MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ULTIMATELY SERVING THE MAJORITY OF TEXAS MEDICAID MEMBERS. THE MCOS WILL NOW BE RECEIVING UPDATED INFORMATION FROM THE SYSTEM MORE FREQUENTLY TO HELP THEM RECOGNIZE THAT A PROVIDER HAS NOW BEEN ENROLLED OR RE-ENROLLED IN TEXAS MEDICAID. THE PROJECT ALSO PUTS NEW VALIDATION REQUIREMENTS IN PLACE, SO WE'RE EXPECTING SOME PROVIDERS WILL HAVE TO GO IN AND UPDATE THEIR INFORMATION AND TEAMS TO CORRECT THEIR DATA.
THIS WAS PART OF A PROJECT KNOWN AS TEAMS PLUS.
PHASE TWO OF THIS PROJECT WILL GIVE PROVIDERS THE ABILITY TO COMPLETE THEIR MANAGED CARE CREDENTIALING APPLICATION THROUGH HHS SYSTEM TEAMS IN ORDER TO LEVERAGE THE INFORMATION THEY'VE ALREADY SUBMITTED TO THE AGENCY, AND THAT WILL GO LIVE LATER THIS YEAR IN 2025.
WE'LL ANNOUNCE THAT SPECIFIC DATE AS WE GET CLOSER TO IT AND HAVE MORE INFORMATION.
AND SO WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING THROUGH WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE.
AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPROVEMENT.
[00:10:08]
THAT'S THE CONCLUSION OF MY REMARKS THAT I HAVE THIS MORNING. THANK YOU.THANK YOU, DIRECTOR MASE. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MICHELLE ALLETTO, CHIEF PROGRAM AND SERVICES OFFICER, TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER.
MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ATTENDEES. TODAY, I'LL PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON A FEW OF THE INITIATIVES MANAGED BY THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION WITHIN CPSO. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO SHARE SOME GOOD NEWS ABOUT OUR CONSUMER MANAGED PERSONAL ATTENDANCE SERVICES, OTHERWISE CALLED SINGPASS. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES PERSONAL ATTENDANT SERVICES TO PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES WHO ARE WILLING AND ABLE TO SUPERVISE THEIR ATTENDANT TEXAS AGED TEXANS AGED 18 OR OLDER, WHO DO NOT MEET THE INCOME AND ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICAID FUNDED PERSONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS CAN UTILIZE SINGPASS.
NEXT, I'D LIKE TO SHARE SOME OF OUR WORK FOCUSED ON OUR AGING POPULATION.
THAT'S A MOUTHFUL TO ENSURE A STRATEGIC, STATEWIDE APPROACH TO INTERAGENCY AGING SERVICES.
THE COUNCIL CONSISTS. I'M SORRY. I'VE ALREADY READ THAT PART.
IN MARCH, THE COUNCIL SUBMITTED ITS INAUGURAL FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN.
THE PLAN FOCUSES ON FIVE GOALS ENHANCE AWARENESS, STRENGTHEN COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION, STREAMLINE ACCESS, SUPPORT FAMILY CAREGIVERS, AND REDUCE AGE AGEISM.
IT ALSO PROVIDES STATE AGENCIES WITH A ROADMAP TO IDENTIFY PRIORITY AREAS THAT IMPACT AGING TEXANS AND METHODS FOR ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF OUR OLDER TEXANS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS. BASED ON AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN SUBMITTED IN MAY, HHS TEAMS ACROSS CPSO DIVISIONS AND CMC'S DIVISIONS IDENTIFIED AND WILL LEAD THE EXECUTION OF 38 SPECIFIC TAX TACTICS TO SUPPORT THE COUNCIL'S GOALS IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
LASTLY, AND HOT OFF THE PRESS, I'M EXCITED TO SHARE THAT LAST FRIDAY, JUNE 6TH, COMMUNITY SERVICES WAS AWARDED A $450,000, TWO YEAR GRANT FROM THE ADMINISTRATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING FOR ENHANCING THE TEXAS NO WRONG DOOR SYSTEM FOR EFFICIENT ACCESS TO LONG TERM SERVICES, AND SUPPORTS THE TEXAS NO WRONG DOOR SYSTEM, COORDINATES ACCESS TO LONG TERM SERVICES AND SUPPORTS OFFERED BY STATE AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT EMPOWERS INDIVIDUALS AND CAREGIVERS TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR LONG TERM, LONG TERM CARE THROUGH A PERSON CENTERED APPROACH.
OUR NO WRONG DOOR APPROACH AND PLAN TRULY EXEMPLIFIES THE MISSION OF CPSO AND HHS, WHICH IS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE WE SERVE BY ENSURING ACCESS TO CRITICAL SERVICES ACROSS TEXAS COMMUNITIES. WE ARE WORKING ACROSS OUR DIVISIONS, FROM OUR TRADITIONAL AGING SERVICES TO MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY PROCESSES TO OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO ACCESS SERVICES, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY INTERACT WITH HHS.
211 TURN AREA INFORMATION CENTERS AND ADRCS TO IMPROVE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SYSTEMS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR TODAY. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.
THANK YOU, CHIEF ALITO. NEXT WE WILL HEAR FROM DISH'S COMMISSIONER, DOCTOR JENNIFER SHUFORD, WHO WILL PROVIDE A PUBLIC HEALTH UPDATE. GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR THIS CHANCE TO UPDATE YOU ALL. DSHS HAS BEEN BUSY WITH LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
WE'VE BEEN BUSY ALSO WITH MAKING ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR PROGRAMS AS THERE'S SOME CHANGES IN IN FEDERAL FUNDS. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON SOME PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIVITIES ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING OUR MEASLES OUTBREAK. WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD SINCE JANUARY ON A LARGE MEASLES OUTBREAK THAT'S MAINLY IMPACTING WEST TEXAS.
IT PEAKED IN MARCH. WE'RE NOW SEEING MANY FEWER CASES OCCURRING ON A DAILY BASIS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT ONE OUTBREAK. WE ARE AT 744 CASES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT OUTBREAK, WHICH IS A VERY LARGE OUTBREAK.
WE HAVE SEEN GOOD RESPONSE FROM OUR LOCAL PARTNERS AND VACCINE INITIATIVES ACROSS THE STATE.
BUT FOR NOW, THE VERY LARGE ONE WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH IS HOPEFULLY COMING TO A CLOSE.
[00:15:03]
WE'RE DEFINITELY SEEING FEWER CASES THERE. SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO TO MONITOR THAT AS WELL AS AVIAN INFLUENZA.WE'RE CONTINUING OUR MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH INITIATIVES, OUR DATA INITIATIVES.
AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT MY AGENCY IS DOING.
I THINK THOSE ARE ALL MY UPDATES. THANKS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR SHUFORD.
GOOD MORNING. COMMISSIONER CHIEFS, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
WE RECOVERED AN ADDITIONAL $93.4 MILLION FOR TAXPAYERS.
THAT MEANS THAT AS OF APRIL 30TH, OUR FY 25 TOTAL RECOVERIES ARE ALMOST 300 MILLION.
THERE ARE ABOUT $280 MILLION AS OF THE END OF APRIL.
SO SOME OF THE CASE HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WORK THAT OUR FOLKS HAVE BEEN DOING.
WE HAD A GROUP OF PEDIATRIC HOSPITALS THAT SELF-REPORTED THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED PAYMENTS IN EXCESS OF WHAT WAS ALLOWED UNDER THE MEDICAID PROGRAM, MORE THAN WHAT WAS ALLOWED UNDER THE TMP. AND THEY CAME TO US, REPORTED THE INFORMATION TO US, THEY WORKED WITH US AND COOPERATED. AND THE END RESULT WAS A $17 MILLION OVERPAYMENT THAT WAS PAID BACK TO THE TEXAS.
IN ANOTHER CASE, WE INVESTIGATED TWO PHARMACIES IN PLANO AND IN RICHMOND WHO WERE USING INCORRECT PROVIDER INFORMATION PRESCRIBER INFORMATION. EXCUSE ME. AND THIS LED TO ALMOST 4000 COVID TEST KITS THAT WERE BUILT IN MEDICAID BETWEEN JANUARY OF 22 AND NOVEMBER OF 24.
INAPPROPRIATELY, THEY SETTLED THESE MATTERS WITH US FOR A LITTLE BIT OVER $1 MILLION.
AND ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING.
WE HAD AN ACTION AGAINST THE OWNER AND THE PRESIDENT OF A HOSPITAL SYSTEM WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN TERMINATED FROM MEDICARE DUE TO MEDICARE MISCONDUCT. THEIR MISCONDUCT IN THAT ARENA LED TO THEM ALSO BEING SUBJECT TO EXCLUSION UNDER MEDICAID.
LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE HERE, WE'VE ALSO BEEN VERY BUSY WITH THE SESSION THAT JUST ENDED, AND WE ARE VERY PLEASED IN THE OUTCOME OF SOME OF THE INITIATIVES THAT WE HAD PENDING IN FRONT OF THE LEGISLATURE. ONE OF OUR BIGGEST INITIATIVES WAS THE MODERNIZATION OF OUR PRIMARY ENFORCEMENT STATUTE, WHICH IS CHAPTER 32 OF THE HUMAN OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES CODE.
OUR STATUTE HAD NOT BEEN MODERNIZED IN ANY SIGNIFICANT FASHION SINCE 1987.
SO ONE OF OUR BIG INITIATIVES WAS TO WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND SEE IF WE COULD GET THAT THAT THING MODERNIZED A BIT, AND WE DID. WE WERE SUCCESSFUL. WE'RE VERY PLEASED ABOUT THAT.
IT ROLLS OUT SEPTEMBER 1ST, AND WE BELIEVE THAT'S GOING TO GIVE US SOME NIMBLE AND VERSATILE TOOLS TO BETTER GO AFTER THE FOLKS THAT ARE PLAYING GAMES WITH THE SYSTEM, TO HOLD THOSE FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE, RECOVER MORE TAXPAYER DOLLARS, AND MAKE SURE THAT THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US ARE ABLE TO GET THE SERVICES THEY SO DESPERATELY NEED. SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO, TO TO USING THAT NEW STATUTE IN OUR ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS.
OUR PIECES OF THAT WERE MOVED INTO A NEW CODIFICATION IN THE GOVERNMENT CODE, CHAPTER 544.
SO THOSE ARE FOLKS WHO MONITOR WHAT WE DO AND HAVE OVER THE YEARS AND ARE USED TO 531 REFERENCES.
IF ANYBODY IS INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT WHERE THIS NEW PROVISION IS IN 544, AS PART OF THE LEGISLATION THAT THAT CHANGED THE NUMBERS, THERE WERE SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT TOOK PLACE, ONE OF WHICH WE'RE PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT, WHICH IS THE INCLUSION OF OUR RECOVERY AUDIT CONTRACTOR.
WHAT WE REFER TO AS THE RAC, WHICH HAS HERETOFORE ONLY BEEN OPERATING IN THE FEE FOR SERVICE AREA, IS NOW GOING TO BE OPERATING IN MANAGED CARE, AND WE BELIEVE THAT WILL RESULT IN GOOD THINGS FOR TEXAS TAXPAYERS AND RECOVERY OF MORE
[00:20:01]
DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN INFAMOUSLY SENT BACK INTO THE PUBLIC FISC.SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
I'VE BEEN HERE A SHORT TIME NOW, BUT I'M FEELING LIKE I'M GETTING A LITTLE USED TO MY POSITION, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THIS TEAM AND VERY PROUD OF ALL THE HARD WORK THAT THEY DO.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, GENERAL WINTER.
SO IF YOU'LL CONVEY OUR APPRECIATION FOR HER.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD.
YOU STOLE MY THUNDER. YES. I WAS GOING TO MENTION THAT AS COMMISSIONER MUTH IS RETIRING AT THE OR NOT RETIRING, STEPPING DOWN AT THE END OF JULY. AND WE ARE SORRY TO SEE HER GO, BUT THE AGENCY IS IN A REALLY GOOD PLACE DUE TO HER LEADERSHIP.
THE STAFF REALLY HAVE ALREADY EXPRESSED REAL THANKS FOR HER LEADERSHIP, AND I THINK THEY FEEL REALLY SUPPORTED AND THAT SHE HAS PUT A NUMBER OF THINGS IN PLACE TO REALLY HELP THE FRONTLINE STAFF. HER WORK HERE AT HHS REALLY HELPED HER.
SHE DID A LOT OF GOOD THINGS FOR WHEN SHE WAS OVER ELIGIBILITY AND MEDICAID.
SO SHE BROUGHT A LOT OF THOSE THINGS WITH HER.
AND THE STAFF REALLY COULD SEE THE THE FRUIT OF THAT LABOR AND REALLY FEEL SUPPORTED AND THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S SHOWN THROUGH FOR THEM. AND SO I THINK THEY WILL REALLY MISS THAT PART OF HER.
SHE'S A REALLY GOOD COMMUNICATOR. AND THEY HAVE REALLY SHE DOES THESE REALLY LOVELY VIDEOS FOR THEM EVERY MONTH, AND THEY HAVE REALLY LOVED THAT. SO HOPEFULLY THE NEW COMMISSIONER IS REALLY GOOD AT THAT TOO.
SO THAT SHE WILL BE SORELY MISSED. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE WE TOO ARE EXCITED THAT SESSION IS OVER.
NONE OF YOU REALLY SAID THAT. BUT I WILL SAY IT.
WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE SESSION OVER, AND WE'RE WE'RE REALLY THRILLED WITH THE OUTCOME OF SESSION.
BUT ONE THING IS, WE HAVE A 30 YEAR OLD INFORMATION SYSTEM.
THAT'S OUR MAIN CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, AND WE WERE HOPING TO GET FUNDING TO REPLACE THAT SYSTEM.
YAY! WE DID GET FUNDING TO REPLACE IT OR BEGIN TO REPLACE THAT SYSTEM.
AND SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE HARD WORK THAT OUR STAFF DO.
KNOCKING ON DOORS AND MAKING HARD DECISIONS ALL DAY, EVERY DAY.
SO WE'RE REALLY PLEASED WITH THE OUTCOMES OF THOSE THINGS.
SO THANK YOU, JENNIFER. WE WILL NOW MEMBERS, THIS CONCLUDES AGENDA ITEM ONE.
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM TWO AGENCY UPDATES.
[2. Agency updates]
AGENDA ITEM TWO A WILL BE UPDATES REGARDING THE 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION 2025 AGENDA ITEM 2A1 WILL BE PRESENTED BY MR. TREY WOOD, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION APPROPRIATION.GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS TREY WOOD. I'M THE.
OH, YOU CAN'T HEAR ME. OH, OKAY. I CAN ALSO TALK VERY LOUD, AS A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW.
SO I'M HAPPY TO SPEAK UP. SO MY NAME IS TREY WOOD.
I'M THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION. GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. I JUST WANT TO DO A BRIEF RECAP OF SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FUNDING PORTION OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION. AND I KNOW OUR GOVERNMENT STAKEHOLDER RELATIONS DIRECTOR, JONATHAN CONNORS, WILL SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT SOME OF THE LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE. THIS WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL SESSION FOR THE AGENCY IN TOTAL, IN TERMS OF FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVED, WE DID RECEIVE A FULL OR PARTIAL FUNDING ACROSS 21 DIFFERENT EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS THAT WE HAD IN THE AGENCY, TOTALING OVER $4 BILLION IN FUNDS. THE BULK OF THAT WAS IN MEDICAID RATES.
I THINK ABOUT 75 TO 80% OF IT WAS FOR INCREASES IN MEDICAID RATES ACROSS THE AGENCY.
JUST AS A REMINDER, WE KIND OF KICKED THIS PROCESS OFF IN OCTOBER OF 2023 WHEN WE BEGAN THE EXCEPTIONAL ITEM DEVELOPMENT PROCESS THAT INCLUDED SOLICITING STAKEHOLDER INPUT, AND THEN TAKING THAT INPUT AND WORKING WITH OUR VARIOUS PROGRAM AREAS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THOSE EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS, CULMINATING IN WHAT WAS SUBMITTED IN THE LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS REQUEST IN SEPTEMBER OF 2024.
THIS IS REALLY A JOINT EFFORT, JOINT EFFORT ACROSS THE AGENCY THAT INVOLVES EVERYONE AT PRETTY MUCH EVERY LEVEL, INCLUDING THE PROGRAM STAFF, THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF MY STAFF AND THE FINANCIAL AREA, AS WELL AS OUR GOVERNMENT STAKEHOLDER RELATIONS TEAM ALL COMING TOGETHER TO DEVELOP THOSE
[00:25:06]
ITEMS AND SUBMIT THEM FOR CONSIDERATION TO THE LEGISLATURE.AND LIKE I SAID, THE LEGISLATURE WAS VERY GENEROUS IN WHAT THEY APPROPRIATED TO THE AGENCY GOING FORWARD. I'LL HIT ON SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THAT THEY DID FUND. AS I MENTIONED, RATE INCREASES WAS A BIG PART OF THAT.
THERE WAS ALSO AN ADMINISTRATIVE ADMIN INCREASE FOR PROVIDERS AS WELL IN THAT SPACE.
THERE WAS ALSO SOME NURSING FACILITY RATE INCREASES, AS WELL AS A RATE INCREASE FOR THE AUTISM BENEFIT, AS WELL AS A GUARDIANSHIP RATE INCREASE. IN ADDITION, THE LEGISLATURE FULLY FUNDED OUR WOMEN'S HEALTH PROGRAM, PROVIDED ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR OUR MEDICAID STAFFING OUR MEDICARE MEDICAID AREA IN RELATION TO THEIR STAFFING.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR PURCHASE PSYCHIATRIC BEDS ACROSS THE STATE, AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL STAFF FOR OUR REGULATORY SPACE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE BACKLOGS THAT WE'VE HAD IN SOME OF OUR REGULATORY PROGRAMS. WE ALSO RECEIVED 40 MILLION FOR OUR THRIVING TEXAS FAMILIES PROGRAM.
OH, OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AND I JUST DON'T LIKE IT THAT CLOSE.
34 MILLION FOR OUR NEW CENTER FOR HIGHER ACUITY YOUTH.
APPROVAL FOR CONSTRUCTION OF OUR NEW ON SITE DAYCARE CENTER, WHICH IS GOING TO BE GOING UP IN THE PARKING LOT IN FRONT OF WINTER'S CONTINUATION OF ADDITIONAL STAFF IN OUR ELIGIBILITY AREA, AS WELL AS FUNDING FOR A NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL IT PROJECTS, INCLUDING CYBER SECURITY COMPLIANCE, MIGRATING OUR ELIGIBILITY SYSTEM TO THE CLOUD, AS WELL AS WELL AS ENHANCEMENTS TO OUR CONTRACT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE DID NOT GET FUNDING FOR THAT WE'LL BE WORKING THROUGH CHALLENGE WISE. WE DID NOT GET FULL FUNDING FOR OUR DCS ASK WHICH WILL IMPACT SOME OF OUR IT, SOME IT SYSTEMS. THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT HOW WE ADDRESS OVER THE COURSE OF THE BIENNIUM, AS WELL AS SEAT MANAGEMENT, WHICH IS BASICALLY COMPUTERS FOR THE AGENCIES, COMPUTER FOR THE AGENCIES, COMPUTER COMPUTERS FOR THE AGENCY, AS WELL AS PORTIONS OF OUR MEDICAID ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRACTS THAT WE DID NOT GET FULL FUNDING FOR.
AGAIN, OVERALL, A VERY SUCCESSFUL SESSION FOR THE AGENCY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING THROUGH. AND I KNOW I BELIEVE JENNIFER MENTIONED THAT EVERYONE IS EXCITED FOR SESSION TO END. WHICH IS TRUE. I AM AS WELL. THE GOOD NEWS IS WE'RE GOING TO KICK OFF EXCEPTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS. SO WE GET TO TURN AROUND AND START WORKING ON THAT AGAIN, WHICH I'M DEFINITELY EXCITED ABOUT. SO WE'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
THANK YOU EVERYONE. IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM. ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, CHIEF WOOD. THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM TWO, A TWO.
GOOD MORNING. I WILL BRING THIS CLOSE AND NOT PULL THE ROOKIE MISTAKE LIKE CHIEF WOOD DID.
ALTHOUGH IF I PICK ANYTHING UP, DOCTOR SHUFORD, I'LL BE GIVING YOU A CALL AFTER THIS.
OKAY. JONATHAN CONNORS, DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS. LET'S TALK NUMBERS FIRST.
BIG NUMBERS. HOW MANY BILLS FILED, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS I KNOW PEOPLE LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT.
SO THIS SESSION THERE WERE 232 TOTAL ITEMS FILED.
THAT INCLUDES THE RESOLUTIONS AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
SO WE SAW MORE BILL ACTIVITY THIS SESSION. WHAT THAT MEANT FOR HHS AND ARTICLE TWO, WE WERE TRACKING 2270 OF THOSE BILLS. AND THAT INCLUDES SOME BILLS THAT IMPACT DSHS, DFS, OIG.
IN TOTAL, WHEN YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTES, FLOOR AMENDMENTS, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, THINGS THAT 2200 NUMBER BUMPS UP TO 3501. SO THAT IS A LOT OF ITEMS. I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY ACROSS ARTICLE TWO AGENCIES FOR PROVIDING QUICK AND TIMELY FEEDBACK ON BILLS FOR OR LEGISLATORS AND THEIR STAFFS. GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
AND FOR THE TIME THAT YOU PERSONALLY AND THAT YOUR TEAMS PERSONALLY PUT IN TO BE AT THE CAPITOL PROVIDING TESTIMONY SITTING IN MEETINGS AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, I KNOW THAT SOME OF THOSE DAYS ARE REALLY LONG, AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN YOU MAY BE CALLED UP, BUT WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR AND YOUR TEAM'S SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE AND ABILITY AND WILLINGNESS TO BE PRESENT AT THE CAPITOL.
THAT DOES MORE FOR THE AGENCY THAN YOU THINK.
[00:30:05]
AS THE COMMISSIONER MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING, WE ARE NOW FOCUSED ON THE NEXT YEAR AND A HALF IMPLEMENTING THOSE NEW THINGS THAT DID PASS. RIGHT. SO THOSE NUMBERS, ABOUT 286 OF THOSE 2200 ITEMS THAT WE WERE TRACKING PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS SOME RANDOM STATISTICS FOR THIS SESSION. THAT'S ABOUT 12.6% OF THE TOTAL ITEMS THAT ARTICLE TWO WAS TRACKING AND MADE THEIR WAY TO THE GOVERNOR COMPARED TO LAST SESSION, 12.9%. SO PERCENTAGE WISE WE'RE LOOKING THE SAME, EVEN THOUGH THE TOTAL NUMBER OF BILLS THAT WERE FILED HAD INCREASED.ONE BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS SESSION AND LAST SESSION THAT WE SAW IN PIECES OF LEGISLATION PARTICULAR TO LAST SESSION, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF BILLS THAT DIRECTED THE AGENCY TO DO MULTIPLE THINGS IN A SINGLE BILL.
THINK OF 24 SENATE BILL 24. SENATE BILL 26 LAST SESSION.
THIS SESSION, THERE ARE A LOT MORE OF WHAT I LIKE TO CALL SINGLE SHOT BILLS, BILLS THAT DIRECTED THE AGENCY TO DO 1 OR 2 THINGS, AND IT IMPACTED 1 OR 2 PROGRAM AREAS OF THE AGENCY, NOT 4 OR 5.
SO THAT PLAYS INTO SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS TO US AS AS FOLKS KNOW, EVERYBODY SAY IT WITH ME.
THE MISSION OF IS TO SERVE TEXAS A BIG EXTENT OF HOW WE DO THAT MISSION AND HOW THAT MISSION IS DRIVEN IS BY LEGISLATIVE DIRECTION, RIGHT. THE DIRECTION PROVIDED BY THE LEGISLATURE, AS WELL AS THE RESOURCES PROVIDED TO THE AGENCY TO IMPLEMENT THAT DIRECTION.
I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THOSE THINGS. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST.
YOU HEARD THOSE 1000 NUMBERS BEFORE. UNLESS YOU GUYS WANT TO STAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND.
AND WE CAN GO. BILL BY BILL RYDER FOR RYDER. SO NON-EXHAUSTIVE NON-EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF ITEMS. FIRST, LET'S TALK MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES. THERE WERE A NUMBER.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE NEW DALLAS STATE HOSPITAL FUNDING TO OPERATIONALIZE A NEW FACILITY IN THE RGV UVALDE CRISIS CENTER, FUNDING TO BUILD UVALDE STYLE CRISIS CENTER IN EL PASO.
NEW BEDS GOING ON IN THE LUBBOCK AREA IN BOTH SUNRISE CANYON AND A NEW MAX FACILITY THERE AS WELL.
EIGHT. IT'S ALSO GOING TO ALLOW PEOPLE WHO WHO AREN'T ON THAT INPATIENT WAITLIST BUT NEED MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES TO ACCESS THOSE CLOSER TO HOME, WHICH IS GREAT. AND IT'S GOING TO HELP OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN TRANSFERRING THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO DIFFERENT PLACES BECAUSE THEY'LL HAVE PLACES TO TRANSFER THEM CLOSER TO HOME. IN ADDITION TO THOSE, THERE WERE SOME RATE INCREASES FOR OUR CONTRACTED PARTNERS TO HELP SOLIDIFY THAT CAPACITY THAT WE HAVE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY OUTSIDE OF THE STATE HOSPITAL SYSTEM.
AND ONE ONE SPECIFIC PROJECT THAT WAS FUNDED THIS SESSION, AND WE WERE PROVIDED ADDITIONAL DIRECTION TO, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT, IF I'M LEGALLY EXCITED TO BE, IF I'M LEGALLY ALLOWED TO BE EXCITED ABOUT ANY PROJECT IS A PROJECT WITH DFS, WHERE WE WILL BE PARTNERING WITH DFS OR GROWING OUR PARTNERSHIP AND PROVIDING A LOCATION FOR CHILDREN THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO FIND CARE SETTINGS FOR WITHIN THE ARTICLE TWO SYSTEM, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING.
TREY ALSO MENTIONED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO HELP ASSIST YOUTHS IN CRISIS.
WE RECEIVED SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND DIRECTION TO PROVIDE OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH CARE TO INDIVIDUALS WITH IDD, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE SEE AS GROWING ACROSS ACROSS THE STATE, WHICH IS GREAT TO GET THOSE FOLKS THAT HAVE DUAL DIAGNOSIS OF IDD AND MENTAL HEALTH.
ANOTHER BIG PROJECT. THERE'S A BILL SIGNING YESTERDAY FOR THIS BILL, SENATE BILL 2308 IBOGAINE.
WE WILL BE PARTNERING WITH AN RI AND SOME OTHER HEALTH RELATED INSTITUTIONS TO DO SOME CLINICAL TRIALS THAT COULD SHOW SOME REALLY PROMISING IMPACTS FOR VETERANS AND OTHER FOLKS SUFFERING FROM THINGS LIKE PTSD. VALERIE MENTIONED THIS TEAMS. WE RECEIVED SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR THE PROVIDER ENROLLMENT SYSTEM TO HELP OUR PROVIDERS, CONTRACTED PROVIDERS WHO HELP WHO ARE THOSE WHO ARE ACTUALLY SERVING THOSE MEDICAID CLIENTS, RIGHT. SO THAT'S KEY TO ENHANCE THAT PROVIDER ENROLLMENT SYSTEM TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR OUR PROVIDERS TO ENROLL.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT. ONE OTHER THING WITHIN MEDICAID, TOO.
WE GOT AN EXTENSION FOR THE MATERNAL OPIOID MISUSE MODEL, WHICH IS A PILOT PROGRAM THAT WAS FUNDED FEDERALLY THAT ALLOWS THAT THAT ASSISTS PREGNANT WOMEN WHO HAVE GET TREATMENT FOR OPIOID USE DISORDER.
[00:35:02]
TEXAS. WHEN WE START THINKING ABOUT MATERNAL HEALTH AND WE LOOK AT DSHS AND THANK YOU TO THE DSHS GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM FOR PROVIDING SOME OF THIS INFORMATION TO ME.THERE WERE RESOURCES TO INCREASE THE QUALITY OF MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CARE NURSE STRIKE TEAMS TO IMPROVE CHILD MATERNITY AND MORBIDITY FOR, FOR CERTAIN CONDITIONS ESTABLISHING A WHOLE BLOOD PILOT PROGRAM, WHICH SOUNDS PRETTY EXCITING FROM THE TESTIMONY I HEARD DURING SESSION ON THAT.
AND A NEW LAB. WHICH DEPENDING ON THE MICROPHONE, CLOSENESS AND CHIEF WOULD.
MAYBE I'LL BE PARTAKING OF THAT AT THE END OF THIS.
THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL. I HAD A COUPLE OF NOTES.
IG YOU YOU HIT ON THOSE. CONGRATS ON GETTING AHEAD OF SUNSET A LITTLE BIT ON THE REWRITE OF THAT OLD, OLD STATUTE. BUT THOSE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO HELP WITH OVER AND UNDERPAYMENT OF MEDICAID CLAIMS, I THINK, IS GOING TO BE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE MEDICAID PROGRAM.
SO NOW WE AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE MOVING INTO THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE.
WHAT THINGS DO WE NEED TO DO AS AN AGENCY ACROSS THE AGENCY TO IMPLEMENT THOSE NEW, EXCITING THINGS TO HELP US ACHIEVE OUR MISSION, OUR MISSION AT THE DIRECTION OF THE LEGISLATURE? IF FOLKS LISTENING HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THE AGENCY IS IMPLEMENTING CERTAIN THINGS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY BILLS, ANY FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, LET US KNOW AND WE CAN.
WE'RE HAPPY TO PROVIDE YOU UPDATES ON AGENCY ACTION ON THOSE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DOCTOR CONNORS. I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR DOING ALL OF THE ORGANIZING AND GETTING US PLACES AND HELPING ME, AND MEETINGS WHERE I HAD WITH MEMBERS.
I THINK IT REALLY MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN OUR WORK DURING THE SESSION.
SO THANK YOU AND THANK YOUR TEAM. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM THREE.
[3. Rule proposals]
ITEM THREE IS RULE PROPOSALS. THE RULES ARE DIVIDED INTO THREE SECTIONS ON THE AGENDA.THERE ARE NO RULE PROPOSALS LISTED UNDER AGENDA ITEM THREE A ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE ACT.
DOES ANY MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON ANY OF THE RULES IN AGENDA ITEM THREE B? IF COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE NO QUESTIONS, I OPEN THE FLOOR TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
MISS KATE BROWN ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT CARDS? EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER YOUNG THERE IS ONE PUBLIC COMMENT REGISTRANT FOR AGENDA ITEM THREE B AT THIS TIME.
TESSA BUCK RAGLAND WILL READ THE RULES SUMMARY FOR AGENDA ITEM 3B7.
ITEM 3B7. HHS PROPOSES AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 351.0805 CONCERNING STATE MEDICAID MANAGED CARE ADVISORY COMMITTEES. SECTION 351.821 CONCERNING VALUE BASED PAYMENT AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, SECTION 351.823 CONCERNING EHEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE, SECTION 351.825 CONCERNING TEXAS BRAIN INJURY ADVISORY COUNCIL AND SECTION 351.827 CONCERNING PALLIATIVE CARE IN INTERDISCIPLINARY ADVISORY COUNCIL AND OUR RESOURCES. MISS JESSICA MILLER. AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO READ THE PUBLIC COMMENT LOGISTICS, AND THEN I WILL CALL ON OUR REGISTERED PUBLIC COMMENT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY. EACH COMMENTER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO PROVIDE THEIR COMMENTS.
THE TIMER WILL BE SHOWN ON THE SCREEN. IF THE COMMENTER IS VIRTUAL, THE TIMER WILL BE ON THE SCREEN.
YOU MUST CONCLUDE YOUR REMARKS. PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT TIME LIMITATIONS.
[00:40:02]
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION SHOULD NOT BE SHARED.AS A REMINDER, CONFIDENTIAL COMMENTERS MUST COMPLY WITH THE APPLICABLE FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS AND REGULATIONS REGARDING ACCESS, USE, OR DISCLOSURE OF HEALTH INFORMATION OR OTHER SENSITIVE PERSONAL INFORMATION.
THIS INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, TITLE 42, CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART TWO, WHICH RESTRICTS THE USE OF INFORMATION PERTAINING TO DRUG ALCOHOL ABUSE AND TREATMENT. AND TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE, CHAPTER 611 .006, WHICH RESTRICTS DISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATION OR RECORDS.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD NOW LIKE TO CALL ON MR. JORDAN SMELLIE TO PROVIDE COMMENT ON 3B7. GOOD MORNING, MR. SMELLIE. WE CAN SEE YOUR CAMERA ON AND YOU'RE UNMUTED.
YOU MAY PROCEED. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. ONE THING THAT SHOULD BE ADDED AS A REQUIREMENT TO COMMITTEES AFFECTED BY THIS RULE PROPOSAL AS IT GOES ALONG WITH THE 89TH TEXAS LEGISLATORS LEGISLATURE, FOCUS ON INCREASED TRANSPARENCY AND INCREASED ACCOUNTABILITY OF STATE AGENCIES IS THE ADDITION OF INCLUSION OF POTENTIAL CONFLICTS BETWEEN TEXAS INTERNAL POLICIES LIKE THE TEXAS FAIR AND FRAUD HEARINGS HANDBOOK, AND RELEVANT SECTIONS OF TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, CODES OF FEDERAL REGULATION, OR OTHER FEDERAL LAWS THAT WERE BROUGHT TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND OR THEIR SUBCOMMITTEES. ATTENTION AND DETAILS AS TO WHY THE COMMITTEE AND OR SUBCOMMITTEE REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS RAISED THROUGH A FORMAL RECOMMENDATION WITHIN THE ANNUAL REPORT TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER, AS WELL AS WITHIN THE REPORT THAT IS REQUIRED TO BE SENT TO THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE.
THIS CHANGE WOULD BETTER HOLD ADVISORY COMMITTEES AND THEIR SUBCOMMITTEES TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITY OF ADVISING THE EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER, AS WELL AS TEXAS LEGISLATOR, ON ISSUES THAT ARE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND OR THEIR SUBCOMMITTEES, SO THAT BOTH THE EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER AND THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE CAN HAVE A BETTER PICTURE OF WHAT IS GOING ON AND WHAT THEY NEED TO ADDRESS TO ENSURE THE RIGHTS OF TEXANS UNDER TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE.
TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, CODES OF FEDERAL REGULATION AND OTHER FEDERAL LAWS ARE NOT BEING VIOLATED BY TEXAS INTERNAL POLICIES AND OR ACTIONS TAKEN BY TEXAS HHS STAFF.
WHAT ONE THING THAT IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING IS THE VIOLATION OF APPELLANT'S RIGHTS DURING MEDICAID FAIR HEARINGS THROUGH RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS OF TEXAS. REFUSING TO SHOW UP FOR THE FAIR HEARING, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS ON TEXAS. ON TEXAS MEDICAID, THE THE ENTITY RESPONSIBLE FOR WRITING THE PRIOR AUTHORIZATION POLICY IS TEXAS VENDOR DRUG PROGRAM. HOWEVER, DURING ALL FIVE OF MY FAIR HEARINGS SO FAR, THIS AGENCY HAS REFUSED TO ATTEND MY HEARING TO DEFEND THEIR POLICY, AND IT IS VIOLATING MY RIGHT TO ESTABLISH ALL RELEVANT FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES. AND THAT'S WHAT THE M 42 CFR 431 .242.
SO I WOULD ASK THAT YOU PLEASE TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION SO THAT I AND OTHER TEXANS CAN HAVE SUPPORT WITH ENSURING OUR RIGHTS ARE NOT VIOLATED. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MR. SMELLY, EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER YOUNG.
THIS CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR AGENDA ITEM THREE B.
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM THREE C THE RULE PROPOSALS UNDER AGENDA ITEM THREE C HAVE NOT YET BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE TEXAS REGISTER FOR PUBLICATION AND PUBLIC COMMENT. UNDER THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ACT.
DOES ANY MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE RULE IN AGENDA ITEM THREE C.
[00:45:04]
IF COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE NO QUESTIONS, I OPEN THE FLOOR TO PUBLIC COMMENT.MISS KATE BROWN, ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT CARDS? EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER YOUNG THERE ARE NO PUBLIC COMMENT REGISTRANTS FOR AGENDA ITEM THREE.
THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES AGENDA ITEM THREE. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM FOUR.
AGENDA ITEM FOUR IS ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THERE ARE NO ADVISORY ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS LISTED UNDER AGENDA ITEM FOUR.
[5. Recent Rule Adoptions - Information item not for discussion]
AS ADOPTED IN THE TEXAS REGISTER SINCE THE FEBRUARY 20TH, 2025 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING AND ARE PROVIDED FOR YOUR INFORMATION.THIS BRINGS US TO AGENDA ITEM SIX AND CONCLUDES ALL BUSINESS ON THE AGENDA.
THANKS TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THEIR TIME.
AND PLEASE NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT AT 10:46 A.M., THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
MISS AREVALO, PLEASE STOP RECORDING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.