Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES
Care
ERVICES/Long-Term
77 th Texas Legislature
Prohibits the inclusion of coverage for punitive damages assessed against a physician or health care
provider in a policy of medical liability insurance issued to or renewed for a physician or health care
provider by JUA.
Provides that if the incurred losses and expenses from physicians or any single category of health care
provider result in a net underwriting loss and exceed 25 percent of the stabilization reserve fund as valued
for that year, then the commissioner is authorized to direct the initiation or continuation of the stabilization
reserve fund until the fund recovers its losses.
Expediting Licensing for Nursing Facility Operators - S.B. 772
by Senators Harris and Zaffirini
House Sponsor: Representative Naishtat
The Texas Department of Human Services (DHS) is responsible for reviewing and approving an application
to operate a nursing home in Texas. Until the application is approved, the facility cannot receive Medicaid
and Medicare funding. There is currently no mechanism in place for DHS to gather and use information on
good nursing home operators to enable those operators to expeditiously gain approval for a license to
operate another existing institution.
Requires DHS to keep a current list of license holders that have excellent operating records and provides
for the expedited approval of a change of ownership license to current license holders that have compiled
excellent operating records according to information available to DHS.
Requires DHS to establish a procedure under which a listed license holder may be granted expedited
approval in obtaining a change of ownership license to operate another existing institution in this state.
Specifies that any requirement relating to inspections or an accreditation review applies only to institutions
operated by the license holder at the time the application is made for the change of ownership license.
Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) - S.B. 908
by Senator Shapleigh, et al.
House Sponsors: Representatives Isett and Chavez
The Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is a nationwide alternative to nursing home care
for the elderly. PACE programs cost the state less than traditional Medicaid payments for those who are
eligible for nursing home placement. Currently, the only PACE program site in Texas is Bienvivir in El Paso.
Requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to develop and implement PACE statewide.
Senate Research Center 132