Current through Reg. 50, No. 13; March 28, 2025
(a) In addition to
the requirements described in Chapter 331 of this title (relating to LIDDA
Service Coordination), a LIDDA must:
(1)
comply with:
(B) Chapter 264 of this title (relating to
Consumer Directed Services Option); and
(C) Chapter 301, Subchapter M of this title
(relating to Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation in Local Authorities and
Community Centers); and
(2) ensure that a rights protection officer
required by §
334.113 of this title (relating to
Rights Protection Officer at a State MR Facility or MRA), who receives a copy
of an HHSC initial intake report or a final investigative report from an FMSA
in accordance with §
264.702 of this title (relating to
Requirements Related to HHSC Investigations When an Alleged Perpetrator is a
Service Provider) or §
264.703 of this title (relating to
Requirements Related to HHSC Investigations When an Alleged Perpetrator is a
Staff Person or a Controlling Person of an FMSA), gives a copy of the report to
the individual's service coordinator.
(b) A LIDDA must ensure that a service
coordinator is an employee of the LIDDA and meets the requirements of this
subsection.
(1) A service coordinator must
meet the minimum qualifications and LIDDA staff training requirements described
in Chapter 331 of this title except as described in paragraph (2) of this
subsection.
(2) Notwithstanding
§
331.19(b)(2)(B)
of this title (relating to Staff Person Training), a service coordinator must
complete a comprehensive non-introductory person-centered service planning
training developed or approved by HHSC within six months after the service
coordinator's date of hire, unless an extension of the six month timeframe is
granted by HHSC.
(3) A service
coordinator must receive training about the following within the first 90
calendar days after beginning service coordination duties:
(A) rules governing the HCS Program and CFC;
and
(B) Chapter 264 of this
title.
(c) A
LIDDA must have a process for receiving and resolving complaints from a program
provider related to the LIDDA's provision of service coordination or the
LIDDA's process to enroll an applicant in the HCS Program.
(d) If, as a result of monitoring, the
service coordinator identifies a concern with the implementation of the PDP,
the LIDDA must ensure that the concern is communicated to the program provider
and attempts are made to resolve the concern. The LIDDA may refer an unresolved
concern to HHSC by calling the HHSC IDD Ombudsman toll-free telephone number at
1-800-252-8154.
(e) A service
coordinator must:
(1) assist an individual,
LAR, or actively involved person in exercising the legal rights of the
individual;
(2) provide an
individual, LAR, or family member with the booklet,
Your Rights In the
Home and Community-based Services (HCS) Program, available on the HHSC
website, and the HHSC HCS Rights Addendum form, and an oral explanation of the
rights in the booklet and the form:
(A) upon
the individual's enrollment in the HCS Program;
(B) upon revision of the booklet or the
form;
(D) if one of the following
occurs:
(i) the individual becomes 18 years of
age;
(ii) a guardian is appointed
for the individual; or
(iii) a
guardianship for the individual ends;
(3) document the provision of the information
required by paragraph (2) of this subsection, and ensure that the documentation
is signed by:
(A) the individual or LAR;
and
(B) the service
coordinator;
(4) ensure
that, upon enrollment of an individual and annually thereafter, the individual
or LAR is informed orally and in writing of the following:
(A) the telephone number of the LIDDA to file
a complaint;
(B) the toll-free
telephone number of the HHSC IDD Ombudsman, 1-800-252-8154, to file a
complaint; and
(C) the toll-free
telephone number of DFPS, 1-800-647-7418, to report an allegation of abuse,
neglect, or exploitation;
(5) maintain for an individual for an IPC
year:
(B) the PDP and, if CFC PAS/HAB is included
on the PDP, the completed HHSC HCS/TxHmL CFC PAS/HAB Assessment form;
(C) a copy of the ID/RC Assessment;
(D) documentation of the activities performed
by the service coordinator in providing service coordination; and
(E) any other pertinent information related
to the individual;
(6)
initiate, coordinate, and facilitate the person-centered planning process to
meet the goals and outcomes identified by an individual and LAR in the
individual's PDP, including scheduling service planning team
meetings;
(7) to meet the needs of
an individual as those needs are identified, develop for the individual a full
range of services and resources using:
(A)
providers for services other than HCS Program services and CFC services;
and
(B) advocates or other actively
involved persons;
(8)
ensure that the PDP for an applicant or individual:
(A) is developed, reviewed, and updated in
accordance with:
(i)
§
263.104(j)(4)(A)
of this chapter (relating to Process for Enrollment of Applicants);
(ii)
§
263.302 of this chapter (relating
to Renewal and Revision of an IPC); and
(iii)
§
331.11 of this title (relating to
LIDDA's Responsibilities); and
(B) document, for each HCS Program service,
other than supervised living and residential support, and for each CFC service,
whether the service is critical to the individual's health and safety as
determined by the service planning team;
(9) ensure that the updated finalized PDP is
signed by the individual or LAR;
(10) participate in the development, renewal,
and revision of an individual's IPC in accordance with §
263.104 and §
263.302 of this chapter;
(11) ensure the service planning team
participates in the renewal and revision of the IPC for an individual in
accordance with §
263.302 of this chapter and ensure
the service planning team completes other responsibilities and activities as
described in this chapter;
(12)
notify the service planning team if the service coordinator receives
notification from the program provider that:
(A) an individual's behavior requires the
implementation of a behavior support plan; or
(B) based on an annual review by the program
provider, an individual's behavior support plan needs to
continue;
(13) if a
change to an individual's PDP is needed, other than as required by §
263.302 of this chapter:
(A) communicate the need for the change to
the individual or LAR, the program provider, and other appropriate
persons;
(B) update the PDP as
necessary; and
(C) within 10
calendar days after the PDP is updated, send a copy of the updated PDP to the
program provider, the individual or LAR and, if applicable, the
FMSA;
(14) provide an
individual's program provider a copy of the individual's current PDP;
(15) monitor the provision of HCS Program
services, CFC services, and non-HCS Program and non-CFC services to an
individual;
(16) document whether
an individual or LAR perceives that the individual is progressing toward
desired outcomes identified on the individual's PDP;
(17) together with the program provider,
ensure the coordination and compatibility of HCS Program services and CFC
services with non-HCS Program and non-CFC services, including, in coordination
with the program provider, assisting an individual in obtaining a
neurobehavioral or neuropsychological assessment and plan of care from one of
the following professionals:
(A) a
psychologist licensed in accordance with Texas Occupations Code Chapter
501;
(B) a speech-language
pathologist licensed in accordance with Texas Occupations Code Chapter 401;
or
(C) an occupational therapist
licensed in accordance with Texas Occupations Code Chapter
454;
(18) for an
individual who has had a guardian appointed, determine, at least annually, if
the letters of guardianship are current;
(19) if individual does not have a guardian:
(A) ensure that the service planning team
determines whether the individual would benefit from having a guardian or a
less restrictive alternative to a guardian;
(B) if the service planning team determines
that the individual would benefit from having a less restrictive alternative to
a guardian such as a supported decision making agreement, take appropriate
actions to implement such an alternative; and
(C) if the service planning team determines
that the individual would benefit from having a guardian, make a referral to
the appropriate court if:
(i) the individual
would not benefit from a less restrictive alternative to a guardian;
or
(ii) the individual would
benefit from having a less restrictive alternative to a guardian but
implementing such an alternative is not feasible;
(20) immediately notify the program provider
if the service coordinator becomes aware that an emergency necessitates the
provision of an HCS Program service or a CFC service to ensure the individual's
health or safety and the service is not on the IPC or exceeds the amount on the
IPC;
(21) if notified by the
program provider that a requirement described in §
263.501(d)(1) of
this chapter (relating to Requirements for Home and Community-Based Settings),
§
263.502(b)(1) -
(7) of this chapter (relating to Requirements
for Program Provider Owned or Controlled Residential Settings) or §
263.503(c)(15)
of this chapter (relating to Residential Agreements) needs to be modified,
update the individual's PDP to include the following:
(A) a description of the specific and
individualized assessed need that justifies the modification;
(B) a description of the positive
interventions and supports that were tried but did not work;
(C) a description of the less intrusive
methods of meeting the need that were tried but did not work;
(D) a description of the condition that is
directly proportionate to the specific assessed need;
(E) a description of how data will be
routinely collected and reviewed to measure the ongoing effectiveness of the
modification;
(F) the established
time limits for periodic reviews to determine if the modification is still
necessary or can be terminated;
(G)
the individual's or LAR's signature evidencing informed consent to the
modification; and
(H) the program
provider's assurance that the modification will cause no harm to the
individual;
(22) if
notified by the program provider that an individual or LAR has refused a
comprehensive nursing assessment and that the program provider has determined
it cannot ensure the individual's health, safety, and welfare in the provision
of host home/companion care, residential support, supervised living, supported
home living, respite, employment assistance, supported employment, employment
readiness, in-home day habilitation, day habilitation, or CFC PAS/HAB:
(A) inform the individual or LAR of the
consequences and risks of refusing the assessment, including that the refusal
will result in the individual's not receiving:
(ii) host home/companion care, residential
support, supervised living, supported home living, respite, employment
assistance, supported employment, employment readiness, in-home day
habilitation, day habilitation, or CFC PAS/HAB, if the individual needs one of
those services and the program provider has determined that it cannot ensure
the health and safety of the individual in the provision of the service;
and
(B) notify the
program provider if the individual or LAR continues to refuse the assessment
after the discussion with the service coordinator;
(23) if the service coordinator determines
that HCS Program services or CFC services provided for an individual should be
terminated, including for a reason described in §
263.104(k)(14)(C) or
(D) of this chapter:
(A) document a description of:
(i) the situation that resulted in the
service coordinator's determination that services should be terminated;
and
(ii) the attempts by the
service coordinator to resolve the situation;
(B) send a written recommendation to
terminate the individual's HCS Program services or CFC services to HHSC and
include the documentation required by subparagraph (A) of this paragraph;
and
(C) provide a copy of the
written recommendation and the documentation required by subparagraph (A) of
this paragraph to the program provider;
(24) if an individual requests termination of
all HCS Program services or all CFC services, within ten calendar days after
the individual's request:
(A) inform the
individual or LAR of:
(i) the individual's
option to transfer to another program provider;
(ii) the consequences of terminating HCS
Program services and CFC services; and
(iii) possible service resources upon
termination, including CFC services through a managed care organization;
and
(B) submit
documentation to HHSC that:
(i) states the
reason the individual is making the request; and
(ii) demonstrates that the individual or LAR
was provided the information required by subparagraph (A)(ii) and (iii) of this
paragraph;
(25)
be objective in assisting an individual or LAR in selecting a program provider
or FMSA;
(26) at the time of
assignment and as changes occur, ensure that an individual and LAR and program
provider are informed of the name of the individual's service coordinator and
how to contact the service coordinator;
(27) unless contraindications are documented
with justification by the service planning team, ensure that a school-age
individual receives educational services in a six-hour-per-day program, five
days per week, provided by the local school district and that no individual
receives educational services at a state supported living center or at a state
center;
(28) unless
contraindications are documented with justification by the service planning
team, ensure that a pre-school-age individual receives an early childhood
education with appropriate activities and services, including small group and
individual play with peers without disabilities;
(29) unless contraindications are documented
with justification by the service planning team, ensure that an individual who
is 18 years or older has opportunities to participate in day activities of the
individual's or LAR's choice that promote achievement of PDP
outcomes;
(30) unless
contraindications are documented with justification by the service planning
team, ensure that each individual is offered choices and opportunities for
accessing and participating in community activities and experiences available
to peers without disabilities;
(31)
assist an individual to meet as many of the individual's needs as possible by
using generic community services and resources in the same way and during the
same hours as these generic services are used by the community at
large;
(32) for an individual
receiving host home/companion care, residential support, or supervised living,
ensure that the individual or LAR is involved in planning the individual's
residential relocation, except in a case of an emergency;
(33) if the program provider notifies the
service coordinator that the program provider is unable to locate the parent or
LAR to assist the LIDDA in conducting permanency planning or if notified by the
LIDDA that the LIDDA is unable to locate the parent or LAR in accordance with
§
263.902(g)(9) of
this subchapter (relating to Permanency Planning):
(A) make reasonable attempts to locate the
parent or LAR by contacting a person identified by the parent or LAR in the
contact information described in paragraph (35)(A) and (B) of this subsection;
and
(B) notify HHSC, no later than
30 calendar days after the date the service coordinator determines the service
coordinator is unable to locate the parent or LAR, of the determination and
request that HHSC initiate a search for the parent or LAR;
(34) if the service coordinator determines
that a parent's or LAR's contact information described in paragraph (35)(A) of
this subsection is no longer current:
(A) make
reasonable attempts to locate the parent or LAR by contacting a person
identified by the parent or LAR in the contact information described in
paragraph (35)(B) of this subsection; and
(B) notify HHSC, no later than 30 calendar
days after the date the service coordinator determines the service coordinator
is unable to locate the parent or LAR, of the determination and request that
HHSC initiate a search for the parent or LAR;
(35) request from and encourage the parent or
LAR of an individual under 22 years of age requesting or receiving supervised
living or residential support to provide the service coordinator with the
following information:
(A) the parent's or
LAR's:
(iv) driver license number and state of
issuance or personal identification card number issued by the Department of
Public Safety; and
(v) place of
employment and the employer's address and telephone number;
(B) name, address, and telephone number of a
relative of the individual or other person whom HHSC or the service coordinator
may contact in an emergency situation, a statement indicating the relationship
between that person and the individual, and at the parent's or LAR's option:
(i) that person's driver license number and
state of issuance or personal identification card number issued by the
Department of Public Safety; and
(ii) the name, address, and telephone number
of that person's employer; and
(C) a signed acknowledgement of
responsibility stating that the parent or LAR agrees to:
(i) notify the service coordinator of any
changes to the contact information submitted; and
(ii) make reasonable efforts to participate
in the individual's life and in planning activities for the
individual;
(36) within three business days after an
individual under 22 years of age begins receiving supervised living or
residential support:
(A) provide the
information listed in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph to the following:
(i) the CRCG for the county in which the
individual's LAR lives (see the HHSC website for a listing of CRCG chairpersons
by county); and
(ii) the local
school district for the area in which the individual's residence is located, if
the individual is at least three years of age, or the early childhood
intervention (ECI) program for the county in which the individual's residence
is located, if the individual is under three years of age (see the HHSC website
to search for an ECI program by zip code or by county); and
(B) as required by subparagraph (A) of this
paragraph, provide the following information to the entities described in
subparagraph (A) of this paragraph:
(i) the
individual's full name;
(ii) the
individual's sex;
(iii) the
individual's ethnicity;
(iv) the
individual's birth date;
(v) the
individual's social security number;
(vi) the LAR's name, address, and county of
residence;
(vii) the date of
initiation of supervised living or residential support;
(viii) the address where supervised living or
residential support is provided; and
(ix) the name and phone number of the person
providing the information;
(37) for an applicant or individual under 22
years of age seeking or receiving supervised living or residential support:
(A) make reasonable accommodations to promote
the participation of the LAR in all planning and decision making regarding the
individual's care, including participating in:
(i) the initial development and annual review
of the individual's PDP;
(ii)
decision making regarding the individual's medical care;
(iii) routine service planning team meetings;
and
(iv) decision making and other
activities involving the individual's health and safety;
(B) ensure that reasonable accommodations
include:
(i) conducting a meeting in person,
by videoconferencing, or by telephone, as mutually agreed upon by the program
provider and the LAR;
(ii)
conducting a meeting at a time and location, if the meeting is in person, that
is mutually agreed upon by the program provider and the LAR;
(iii) if the LAR has a disability, providing
reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities
Act, including providing an accessible meeting location or a sign language
interpreter, if appropriate; and
(iv) providing a language interpreter, if
appropriate;
(C) provide
written notice to the LAR of a meeting to conduct an annual review of the
individual's PDP at least 21 calendar days before the meeting date and request
a response from the LAR regarding whether the LAR intends to participate in the
annual review;
(D) before an
individual who is under 18 years of age, or who is at least 18 years of age and
under 22 years of age and has an LAR, moves to another residence operated by
the program provider, attempt to obtain consent for the move from the LAR
unless the move is made because of a serious risk to the health or safety of
the individual or another person; and
(E) document compliance with subparagraphs
(A) - (D) of this paragraph in the individual's record;
(38) in accordance with Chapter 303,
Subchapter G of this title (relating to Transition Planning) conduct:
(A) a pre-move site review for an applicant
21 years of age or older who is enrolling in the HCS Program from a nursing
facility or as a diversion from admission to a nursing facility; and
(B) post-move monitoring visits for an
individual 21 years of age or older who enrolled in the HCS Program from a
nursing facility or has enrolled in the HCS Program as a diversion from
admission to a nursing facility;
(39) do the following to inform applicants
and individuals about responsibilities related to EVV:
(A) for an applicant who will receive a
service that requires the use of EVV from the program provider or through the
CDS option:
(i) orally explain the information
in the HHSC Electronic Visit Verification Responsibilities and Additional
Information form to the applicant or LAR;
(ii) sign the HHSC Electronic Visit
Verification Responsibilities and Additional Information form to attest to
explaining the information and to providing a copy to the individual or
LAR;
(iii) provide the individual
or LAR with a copy of the signed form;
(iv) perform the activities described in
clause (i) - (iii) of this subparagraph before the individual's enrollment;
and
(v) maintain the completed HHSC
Electronic Visit Verification Responsibilities and Additional Information form
in the individual's record;
(B) for an individual who will receive a
service that requires the use of EVV from the program provider or who is
transferring to another program provider or LIDDA and will receive a service
that requires the use of EVV from the program provider or through the CDS
option:
(i) orally explain the information in
the HHSC Electronic Visit Verification Responsibilities and Additional
Information form to the individual or LAR;
(ii) sign the HHSC Electronic Visit
Verification Responsibilities and Additional Information form to attest to
explaining the information and to providing a copy to the individual or
LAR;
(iii) provide the individual
or LAR with a copy of the signed form;
(iv) perform the activities described in
clause (i)-(iii) of this subparagraph on or before the effective date of the
IPC that includes the EVV required service or the effective date of the
transfer to another program provider or LIDDA; and
(v) maintain the completed HHSC Electronic
Visit Verification Responsibilities and Additional Information form in the
individual's record; and
(C) for an individual who will receive a
service that requires the use of EVV through the CDS option or who will
transfer to another FMSA and is receiving a service requiring the use of EVV:
(i) orally explain the information in the
HHSC Electronic Visit Verification Responsibilities and Additional Information
form to the individual or LAR;
(ii)
sign the HHSC Electronic Visit Verification Responsibilities and Additional
Information form to attest to explaining the information and to providing a
copy to the individual or LAR;
(iii) provide the individual or LAR with a
copy of the signed form;
(iv)
perform the activities described in clause (i)-(iii) of this subparagraph
before the individual receiving the EVV required service through the CDS option
or on or before the effective date of the transfer to another FMSA;
and
(v) maintain the completed HHSC
Electronic Visit Verification Responsibilities and Additional Information form
in the individual's record;
(40) have contact with an individual
in-person, by videoconferencing, or telephone to provide service coordination
during a month in which it is anticipated that the individual will not receive
an HCS Program service unless:
(A) the
individual's HCS Program services have been suspended; or
(B) the service coordinator had an in-person
contact with the individual that month to comply with §
331.11(d) of
this title (relating to LIDDA's Responsibilities);
(41) within one business day after the
meeting to revise an IPC described in §
263.503(k) of
this chapter (relating to Residential Agreements), submit the following
documentation to HHSC if the individual or LAR wants to keep residential
support, supervised living, or host home/companion care on the individual's
IPC:
(A) a completed HHSC Notification of
Service Coordinator Disagreement form;
(B) a copy of the written notice of proposed
eviction described in §
263.503(h)(3) of
this chapter;
(C) a copy of the
written notice to vacate described in §
263.503(j)(3) of
this chapter;
(D) progress notes
from any meetings related to the eviction; and
(E) a copy of the individual's PDP;
and
(42) within one
business day after receiving the notice from a program provider described in
§
263.503(m) of
this chapter, notify HHSC that the individual is no longer delinquent in room
or board payments.