bill speeding up Medicaid contracts for nursing homes

The text as introduced · 381 words

By: Rose
H.B. No. 3902

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to licensure and contracting for the delivery of medical

assistance by nursing facilities.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 32.021, Human Resources Code, is amended

by adding new subsection (t) as follows:

(t) The commission shall ensure that contracts for the

delivery of medical assistance to a nursing facility:

(1) satisfy the requirements of Section 242. 033(h),

Health and Safety Code;

(2) are awarded on terms and conditions that are no

more stringent than the federal requirements governing Medicare

certification and enrollment of skilled nursing facilities; and

(3) allow uninterrupted Medicaid payments if:

(A) the new provider meets the requirements of

this Chapter and licensure requirements of Chapter 242, Health and

Safety Code;

(B) the new provider assumes the prior provider's

contract terms and conditions that were in effect of the time of

ownership transfer; and

(C) the new provider enters into a successor

liability agreement with the commission and the prior provider

indicating the new provider agrees to pay the commission for any

liabilities that exist or may be found to exist during the period of

the prior provider's contract with the commission .

SECTION 2. Section 242.033, Health and Safety Code is

amended by adding new subsection (h) as follows:

(h) The department shall ensure that rules adopted this

section:

(1) provide for a single application for licensure and

contracting for the delivery of medical assistance consistent with

the requirements of Chapter 32, Human Resources Code;

(2) require the department to issue a contract for the

delivery of medical assistance within thirty (30) days of the

issuance of a temporary change of ownership license as provided for

in Section 242.00336(c); and

(3) ensure vendor payments are made to nursing

facilities within thirty (30) days of the effective date of a

contract for delivery of medical assistance, including:

(A) requiring any managed care organization

contracts with the commission to provide for expedited

credentialing of nursing facilities consistent with the

commission's rules within no more than thirty (30) days; and

(B) managed care organizations' contracts with

nursing facilities be effective the date of the commission's

Medicaid contract with such nursing facilities.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.