Current through Reg. 49, No. 38; September 20, 2024
(a) Introduction. Texas Healthcare
Transformation and Quality Improvement Program §1115(a) Medicaid
demonstration waiver payments are available under this section for eligible
performers described in subsection (c) of this section. Waiver payments to
performers must be in compliance with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services approved waiver Program Funding and Mechanics Protocol, HHSC waiver
instructions and this section.
(b)
Definitions.
(1) Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services (CMS)--The federal agency within the United States Department
of Health and Human Services responsible for overseeing and directing Medicare
and Medicaid, or its successor.
(2)
Delivery System Reform Incentive Payments (DSRIP)--Payments related to the
development or implementation of a program of activity that supports a
performer's efforts to enhance access to health care, the quality of care, and
the health of patients and families it serves.
(3) Demonstration year--The 12-month period
beginning October 1 for which the payments calculated under this section are
made.
(4) Governmental entity--A
state agency or a political subdivision of the state. A governmental entity
includes a hospital authority, hospital district, city, county, or state
entity.
(5) HHSC--The Texas Health
and Human Services Commission or its designee.
(6) Intergovernmental transfer (IGT)--A
transfer of public funds from a governmental entity to HHSC.
(7) Performer--A Medicaid provider that
implements one or more DSRIP projects.
(8) Public funds--Funds derived from taxes,
assessments, levies, investments, and other public revenues within the sole and
unrestricted control of a governmental entity. Public funds do not include
gifts, grants, trusts, or donations, the use of which is conditioned on
supplying a benefit solely to the donor or grantor of the funds.
(9) Regional Healthcare Partnership (RHP)--A
collaboration of interested participants that work collectively to develop and
submit to the state a regional plan for health care delivery system reform.
Regional Healthcare Partnerships will support coordinated, efficient delivery
of quality care and a plan for investments in system transformation that is
driven by the needs of local hospitals, communities, and populations.
(10) RHP plan--A multi-year plan within which
participants propose their portion of waiver funding and DSRIP
projects.
(11) Waiver--The Texas
Healthcare Transformation and Quality Improvement Program Medicaid
demonstration waiver under §1115 of the Social Security Act.
(c) Eligibility for DSRIP. For a
performer to be eligible to receive DSRIP, the performer must:
(1) be actively enrolled as a Medicaid
provider in the State of Texas;
(2)
submit to HHSC documentation of completion of a milestone identified in the
approved RHP plan; and
(3) for a
private performer only, complies with the eligibility requirements in §
RSA
355.8201(c)(1)(B) of this
title (relating to Waiver Payments to Hospitals for Uncompensated Care) or
§
RSA
355.8202(c)(3) of this title
(relating to Waiver Payments to Physician Group Practices for Uncompensated
Care), as applicable.
(d) Source of funding. The non-federal share
of funding for payments under this section is limited to timely receipt by HHSC
of public funds from a governmental entity.
(e) Payment frequency. DSRIP payments will be
distributed at least annually, not to exceed two payments per performer per
year, upon achievement of RHP plan milestones as reviewed and approved by CMS
and HHSC. The payment schedule or frequency may be modified as specified by CMS
or HHSC.
(f) Funding limitations.
Payments made under this section are limited by the maximum aggregate amount of
funds approved by CMS for DSRIP for each year that the waiver is in
effect.
(g) DSRIP maximum payment
amounts. The approved RHP plan establishes the payment amount associated with a
particular milestone. DSRIP payments cannot exceed the amount reported in the
RHP Plan.
(h) Payment methodology.
(1) Notice. Prior to making any DSRIP
payments, HHSC will give notice of the following information:
(A) the maximum payment amount for the
payment period;
(B) the maximum IGT
amount necessary for a performer to receive the amount described in
subparagraph (A) of this paragraph; and
(C) the deadline for completing the
IGT.
(2) Payment amount.
The approved RHP plan establishes the payment amount associated with a
milestone. DSRIP payments cannot exceed the amount established in the approved
RHP plan. The amount of the payment to a performer will be determined based on
the amount of funds transferred by a governmental entity as follows:
(A) If a governmental entity transfers the
maximum amount referenced in paragraph (1) of this subsection on behalf of each
performer owned by or affiliated with that governmental entity, each performer
owned by or affiliated with that governmental entity will receive the full
payment amount calculated for that payment period.
(B) If a governmental entity does not
transfer the maximum amount referenced in paragraph (1) of this subsection on
behalf of each performer owned by or affiliated with that governmental entity,
each performer owned by or affiliated with that governmental entity will
receive a portion of the value associated with that milestone or quality
measure (as specified in the RHP plan) that is proportionate to the total value
of all milestones that are completed and eligible for payment for that period
by all performers owned by or affiliated with that governmental
entity.
(3) Final
payment opportunity. If a performer does not receive a full DSRIP payment as a
result of subparagraph (h)(2)(B) above, a governmental entity may provide the
necessary IGT to make up the non-federal share of that shortfall until the last
reporting period of the demonstration year following the demonstration year in
which the applicable milestone is listed in the RHP plan. Any shortfall remains
the obligation of the original governmental entity until that governmental
entity informs HHSC that it will no longer agree to fund that obligation.
(A) If the governmental entity will no longer
fund the obligation, that governmental entity must inform HHSC no later than
the last date of the reporting period for the applicable payment
period.
(B) A performer may utilize
any affiliated governmental entity to fund the shortfall but must inform HHSC
of the identity of this governmental entity no later than the last date of a
reporting period in order for that affiliated entity to fund the shortfall
during the associated payment period.
(i) Recoupment.
(1) In the event of an overpayment identified
by HHSC or a disallowance by CMS of federal financial participation related to
a performer's receipt or use of payments under this section, HHSC may recoup an
amount equivalent to the amount of the overpayment or disallowance. The
non-federal share of any funds recouped from the performer will be returned to
the governmental entity that was the source of those funds.
(2) Payments under this section may be
subject to adjustment for payments made in error, including, without
limitation, adjustments under §
RSA
371.1711 of this title (relating to
Recoupment of Overpayments and Debts), 42 CFR Part 455, and Chapter 403, Texas
Government Code. HHSC may recoup an amount equivalent to any such
adjustment.
(3) HHSC may recoup
from any current or future Medicaid payments as follows:
(A) HHSC will recoup from the performer
against which any overpayment was made or disallowance was directed.
(B) If, within 30 days of the performer's
receipt of HHSC's written notice of recoupment, the performer has not paid the
full amount of the recoupment or entered into a written agreement with HHSC to
do so, HHSC may withhold any or all future Medicaid payments from the performer
until HHSC has recovered an amount equal to the amount overpaid or
disallowed.