From HHSC: While every effort has been made to offer an accurate and current listing of meeting agendas and events on this calendar, the information has been compiled from a variety of sources and is subject to change without notice to the user.
Please Note: This is a comprehensive list of upcoming meetings provided by HHSC. Not every meeting fits the parameters for coverage by Texas Insight. Refer to Texas Insight’s “Weekly Insight” newsletters for regular updates on planned coverage.
February 5, 2021
- This meeting will be webcast: Proposed Medicaid Payment Rates for the 2021 Annual Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Updates
- This meeting will be webcast: Proposed Medicaid Payment Rates for the Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs) Fee Review
- This meeting will be webcast: Proposed Medicaid Payment Rates for the Medical Transportation Program (MTP) Fee Review
- This meeting will be webcast: Behavioral Health Advisory Committee Agenda
- This meeting will be webcast: Notice of Public Hearing on Proposed Rules for the Rural Access to Primary and Preventive Services Program
- Council on Sex Offender Treatment (CSOT) Agenda
- This meeting will be webcast: Notice of Public Hearing on Proposed Rules for the Directed Payment Program for Behavioral Health Services
- Emergency Medical Services Committee Meeting Governor’s EMS and Trauma Advisory Council (GETAC) Agenda
February 8, 2021
- EMS Medical Directors Committee Meeting – Governor’s EMS and Trauma Advisory Council (GETAC) Agenda
- This meeting will be webcast: Joint Meeting of the Aging and Disability Resource Center Advisory Committee and Texas Respite Advisory Committee Agenda
February 9, 2021
February 10, 2021
- This meeting will be webcast: Policy Council for Children and Families (PCCF) Agenda
- This meeting will be webcast: Public Health Funding and Policy Committee (PHFPC) Agenda
- Disaster Preparedness and Response Committee Meeting – Governor’s EMS and Trauma Advisory Council (GETAC) Agenda
February 11, 2021
- This meeting will be webcast: Medical Care Advisory Committee (MCAC) Agenda
- EMS Education Committee Meeting – Governor’s EMS and Trauma Advisory Council (GETAC) Agenda
- This meeting will be webcast: STAR+PLUS Pilot Program Workgroup (SPPPW) Agenda
- Trauma Systems Committee Meeting – Governor’s EMS and Trauma Advisory Council (GETAC) Agenda
February 12, 2021
- Air Medical and Specialty Care Transport Committee Meeting – Governor’s EMS and Trauma Advisory Council (GETAC) Agenda
- This meeting will be webcast: Texas Council on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke (TCVDS) Agenda
- Stroke Committee Meeting – Governor’s EMS and Trauma Advisory Council (GETAC) Agenda
February 15, 2021
- This meeting will be webcast: Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response (IDTF) Agenda
February 17, 2021
- This meeting will be webcast: Proposed Payment Rates for HCBS – Adult Mental Health Supported Home Living and YES Waiver In-Home Respite
- This meeting will be webcast: Texas Medical Disclosure Panel (TMDP) Agenda
February 18, 2021
- This meeting will be webcast: Task Force of Border Health Officials (TFBHO) Agenda
February 22, 2021
- This meeting will be webcast: Texas School Health Advisory Committee (THAC) Agenda
February 24, 2021
- State Medicaid Managed Care Advisory Committee Network Adequacy Subcommittee (SMMCAC NA) Agenda
- State Medicaid Managed Care Advisory Committee Service and Care Coordination Subcommittee (SMMCAC SCC) Agenda
February 25, 2021
- State Medicaid Managed Care Advisory Committee Complaints, Appeals, and Fair Hearings Subcommittee Agenda
- State Medicaid Managed Care Advisory Committee Clinical Oversight and Administrative Simplification Subcommittee (SMMCAC) Agenda
- This meeting will be webcast: State Medicaid Managed Care Advisory Committee (SMMCAC) Agenda
Proposed Rules
Formal Comments via the Texas Register
To let the public know about a rulemaking action – such as new, amended or repealed rules – HHS publishes a notice in the Texas Register, a publication of the Texas Secretary of State. Interested parties then can review and comment on the proposed rule. The Secretary of State publishes a new issue of the Texas Register each Friday.
The Administrative Procedure Act (Texas Government Code, Chapter 2001) requires the notice published in the Texas Register to include a brief explanation of the proposed rule and a request for comments from any interested person. The notice also includes instructions for submitting comments regarding the rule to the agency, including the date by which comments must be submitted. Agencies must give interested persons “a reasonable opportunity” to submit comments. The public comment period begins on the day after the notice of a proposed rule is published in the Texas Register and lasts for a minimum of 30 calendar days.
Below is a list of proposed rules that have been published in the Texas Register. The proposed rules that are published in the Texas Register are open for public comment until the end of the comment period.
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Draft Rules Informal Comments
Informal opportunities to comment occur before a rule is published in the Texas Register. HHS staff may solicit informal public and stakeholder input by:
- inviting stakeholders to submit comments on potential rule changes during rule development.
- sharing a draft rule with stakeholders for review.
- using existing HHS advisory committees to comment on rules.
| Title | Project No. | Contact | Comment Start Date | Comment End Date |
| Title 25, Chapter 295, Subchapter I, Texas Environmental Lead Reduction | #21R034 | DSHS Environmental Hazards Branch | 1/28/21 | 2/11/21 |
2021 Schedule
As HHSC has received a waiver to Rate Hearing Requirements, there will not be a rate hearing conducted on many of these rates.
| Title | Proposed Effective Date | Packet Updated | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notice Of Proposed Prospective Reimbursement For Rural Hospitals Participating In Medicaid | September 01, 2021 | Notice Of Proposed Prospective Reimbursement For Rural Hospitals Participating In Medicaid 09-01-2021-prospective-reimbursement-rural-hospitals-in-medicaid.pdf Notice Of Proposed Prospective Reimbursement For Rural Hospitals Participating In Medicaid Attachment | |
| Proposed Payment Rates for Home and Community-Based Services – Adult Mental Health (HCBS-AMH) Supported Home Living (SHL) and Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Waiver In-Home Respite | April 01, 2021 | Proposed Payment Rates for Home and Community-Based Services – Adult Mental Health (HCBS-AMH) Supported Home Living (SHL) and Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Waiver In-Home Respite 04-01-2021-proposed-rate-hcs-hcbs-mh-sbl-yes-waiver-ihresp.pdf | |
| Notice of Proposed Adjustments to Fees, Rates, or Charges for Medicaid Biennial Calendar Fee Review of the following: Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs) | April 01, 2021 | Notice of Proposed Adjustments to Fees, Rates, or Charges for Medicaid Biennial Calendar Fee Review of the following: Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs) 04-01-2021-larcs-biennialcalendarfeereview.pdf | |
| Notice of Proposed Adjustments to Fees, Rates or Charges for Wound Care | March 01, 2021 | Notice of Proposed Adjustments to Fees, Rates or Charges for Wound Care 03-2021-policy-woundcare.pdf | |
| Notice of Proposed Adjustments to Fees, Rates or Charges for Telemonitoring Update | March 01, 2021 | Notice of Proposed Adjustments to Fees, Rates or Charges for Telemonitoring Update 03-2021-policy-telemonitoring.pdf | |
| Notice of Proposed Adjustments to Fees, Rates or Charges for Stereotactic Radiosurgery | March 01, 2021 | Notice of Proposed Adjustments to Fees, Rates or Charges for Stereotactic Radiosurgery 03-2021-policy-stereotactic-radiosurgery.pdf | |
| Notice of Proposed Adjustments to Fees, Rates or Charges for Nutritional (Enteral) Products, Supplies, and Equipment – Home Health & CCP: Immobilized Lipase Cartridge | March 01, 2021 | Notice of Proposed Adjustments to Fees, Rates or Charges for Nutritional (Enteral) Products, Supplies, and Equipment – Home Health & CCP: Immobilized Lipase Cartridge 03-2021-policy-nutrional-prod-sup-equip.pdf | |
| Notice of Proposed Adjustments to Fees, Rates or Charges for Digital Breast Tomosynthesis | March 01, 2021 | Notice of Proposed Adjustments to Fees, Rates or Charges for Digital Breast Tomosynthesis 03-2021-policy-dbt.pdf | |
| Notice of Proposed Adjustments to Fees, Rates or Charges for Colorectal Cancer Screening Policy | March 01, 2021 | Notice of Proposed Adjustments to Fees, Rates or Charges for Colorectal Cancer Screening Policy 03-2021-policy-colorectal-cancer-screen.pdf | |
| Notice of Proposed Adjustments to Fees, Rates or Charges for Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) | March 01, 2021 | Notice of Proposed Adjustments to Fees, Rates or Charges for Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) 03-2021-policy-hcpcs.pdf Notice of Proposed Adjustments to Fees, Rates or Charges for Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Attachments | |
| Biennial Calendar Fee Review | March 01, 2021 | Biennial Calendar Fee Review 03-2021-biennialcalendarfeereview.pdf Biennial Calendar Fee Review Attachments | |
| Notice of Proposed Adjustments to Fees, Rates or Charges for Medical Transportation Program (MTP) Fee Review | January 01, 2021 | Notice of Proposed Adjustments to Fees, Rates or Charges for Medical Transportation Program (MTP) Fee Review 01-2021-medical-transport.pdf | |
| Notice of Proposed Adjustments to Fees, Rates or Charges for 2021 Annual Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Updates | January 01, 2021 | Notice of Proposed Adjustments to Fees, Rates or Charges for 2021 Annual Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Updates 01-01-2021-policy-hcpcs-annual-2021.pdf Notice of Proposed Adjustments to Fees, Rates or Charges for 2021 Annual Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Updates Attachments | |
| Notice of Adjustments to Fees, Rates or Charges for Quarterly Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Updates Related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) High Throughput Testing | January 01, 2021 | Notice of Adjustments to Fees, Rates or Charges for Quarterly Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Updates Related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) High Throughput Testing 01-01-2021-notice-adjfees-hcpcs-covid19-highthrouhput-testing.pdf | |
| Notice of Adjustments to Fees, Rates or Charges for Quarterly Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Updates Related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) | January 01, 2021 | Notice of Adjustments to Fees, Rates or Charges for Quarterly Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Updates Related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) 01-01-2021-notice-adjfeesratescharges-hcpcs-covid19.pdf |
Adaptive screener may help identify youth at risk of suicide. NIMH-funded researchers have developed a computerized adaptive screener to identify youth at risk for attempting suicide. The screener, called the computerized adaptive screen for suicidal youth (CASSY), consists of 11 questions on average and correctly identified 82.4% of youth who went on to attempt suicide in the three months following screening. The results suggest this screener could serve as an easy-to-use way for providers to detect youth suicide risk in emergency department settings.
An MEPD and Texas Works Bulletin Has Been Released. An MEPD and Texas Works Bulletin has been released with new policy or policy clarification. Click here to see the bulletin.
Changes to Texas Administrative Code Chapter References for HHS System. As part of the transformation of the Health and Human Services (HHS) system, rule chapters are being relocated in the Texas Administrative Code (TAC).
Effective March 1, 2021, rules in:
- 40 TAC Social Services and Assistance, Part 2, Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, Chapter 109, Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
Will be transferred to:
- 26 TAC Health and Human Services, Part 1, Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Chapter 360, Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services.
The table below outlines recent rule transfers.
| Rule Title | Current TAC | New TAC |
|---|---|---|
| General Rules | 40 TAC 109, Sub A | 26 TAC 360, Sub A |
| Board for Evaluation of Interpreters | 40 TAC 109, Sub B | 26 TAC 360, Sub B |
| BEI Interpreter Certification | 40 TAC 109, Sub B, Div 1 | 26 TAC 360, Sub B, Div 1 |
| BEI Court Interpreter Certification | 40 TAC 109, Sub B, Div 2 | 26 TAC 360, Sub B, Div 2 |
| BEI Trilingual Certification | 40 TAC 109, Sub B, Div 3 | 26 TAC 360, Sub B, Div 3 |
| BEI Medical Interpreter Certification | 40 TAC 109, Sub B, Div 4 | 26 TAC 360, Sub B, Div 4 |
| Deaf and Hard of Hearing Driver Identification Program | 40 TAC 109, Sub D | 26 TAC 360, Sub D |
| Certificate of Deafness for Tuition Waiver Program | 40 TAC 109, Sub E | 26 TAC 360, Sub E |
You will need to refer to the new TAC chapters after March 1, 2021. All letters, memoranda, and other guidance remain in effect while HHSC updates outdated references. The rule transfer notice was posted in the February 5, 2021, issue of the Texas Register.
If you have questions about these administrative moves, email the Rules Coordination Office.
The following new reports have been posted on the Reports and Presentations page:
February 2021
- Procurement and Contracting Phase IV Evaluation Report
- Report on Outcomes of the Non-Physician Mental Health Professionals
- 2020 Revised Texas Promoting Independence Plan
To see a list of all reports and presentations go to the Reports and Presentations page.
EVV Refresher Training on Feb. 19. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission and Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership are hosting an Electronic Visit Verification webinar.
This training is a refresher and covers topics for Home and Community-based Services program providers, Texas Home Living program providers and financial management services agencies who submit EVV claims for HCS and TxHmL EVV-required services.
The training is not required and is not a substitute for annual EVV training requirements.
Certificates of completion will not be issued.
Attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions throughout the training.
Both HHSC and TMHP will conduct a live question and answer session.
The registration link is below and provides details, such as agenda topics.
HCS/TxHmL EVV Refresher Training – Claims Submission/Claims Matching Policies & Best Practices to Avoid EVV Claim Mismatches
Friday Feb. 19
10 a.m. – Noon
Register for the webinar.
Email HHSC EVV for questions.
REMINDER: Texas Council on Consumer Direction Applications Due Feb. 14. If you’re interested in issues related to the development, implementation, expansion and delivery of services through Consumer Directed Services, you may want to apply to be a member of the Texas Council on Consumer Direction. But act quickly as applications are due Feb. 14! Click here to learn more and apply.
DSHS Flu Surveillance Activity Report Update. This information has recently been updated and is now available.
DFPS Council Meets February 12, 2021. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Council will hold a meeting on February 12, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. CST via GoToWebinar.
The link to register for the meeting as an attendee is:
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6346491479265219598 (updated)
Note: There is no physical location for the meeting.
You may register for public comment and download the meeting agenda on the DFPS website.