Highlights of the 76th Texas Legislature - Senate

_ HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES/REGULATORY
VOUCHER PROGRAM FOR SOME SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED - S.B. 1586
by Senator Zaffirini
House Sponsors: Representative Hilderbran, et al.
Currently, Texas is piloting a voucher program for payment of certain services for
persons with disabilities. Such a program has been recommended by the Comptroller’s
Texas Performance Review.
Requires the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to develop a program in
which the use of vouchers is established as a payment option for the delivery of certain
state-funded and Medicaid-funded services, such as personal assistance services, respite
services, and supported employment services, to persons with disabilities.
Restricts the voucher payment program to programs operated by the Texas Department of
Human Services, the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, the
Texas Rehabilitation Commission, and the Texas Department of Health.
Creates a voucher payment program work group to assist HHSC in developing and
implementing the program.
STUDY ON FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENTS TO COUNTIES - H.B. 822
by Representative Maxey, et al.
Senate Sponsor: Senator Cain
Creates the task force on federal reimbursements to counties to study the changes needed
to increase federal reimbursements to county governments, identify ways to increase the
indirect cost reimbursement from the federal government to counties, and identify
methods of training employees on ways to increase federal reimbursements.
FRAUD IN MEDICAID, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, & FOOD STAMP PROGRAMS
- H.B. 875
by Representative Maxey
Senate Sponsor: Senator Zaffirini
The Office of Investigations and Enforcement was created within the Health and Human
Services Commission by Senate Bill 30 during the 1997 Texas Legislature to investigate
recipient and provider Medicaid fraud. Recipient fraud occurs when an ineligible
individual receives Medicaid services or other benefits, and provider fraud occurs when a
healthcare provider submits and is compensated for false Medicaid claims. S.B. 30 also
required the commission to use learning or network technology to identify and deter
fraud in the state's Medicaid program. H.B. 875 sets forth provisions for initiating
automated tracking systems for use in investigations of fraud in the Medicaid program.
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Senate Research Center 174 76 th Legislature