September 10, 2015 3:23 PM

Speaker Straus puts HHSC on notice: The agency needs to tell lawmakers if cuts will harm access to care for disabled kids

Straus says it is HHSC’s “responsibility to inform the Legislature if the proposed reductions would harm access to care and network adequacy.”

Speaker Joe Straus on Thursday afternoon posted this statement on Facebook:

“My office has received a number of inquiries regarding proposed Medicaid rate reductions for acute care therapy services. These services are critically important to many Texas families.

The state is required to provide Medicaid recipients with the services for which they are qualified. The state is also committed to making sure that the Medicaid program is managed efficiently and that taxpayer dollars are used wisely.

Earlier this year, the Legislature directed the Health and Human Services Commission to reform the acute care therapy reimbursement methodology to be in line with industry standards, policies and utilization. That realignment calls for a reduction of rates. The Legislature also directed HHSC to get stakeholder input and to consider access to care, which includes network adequacy, as required by federal guidelines, when deciding how to implement those reductions.

The Commission originally proposed reducing therapy rates by $50 million per year for the next two years. My office was in regular contact with the other members of the Legislature, the Commission, and providers of acute therapy services to ensure that sufficient access to services were maintained. HHSC also proposed a modified plan that I viewed as a reasonable compromise. However, before a final proposal could be considered, a court challenge was filed.

That lawsuit has been dismissed, which means the agency will begin the process again by proposing new rates. I expect the Commission to keep us in compliance with federal law as it works through a new proposal. I also believe it is the agency’s responsibility to inform the Legislature if the proposed reductions would harm access to care and network adequacy.

I will continue to monitor this issue closely as HHSC considers how best to implement these reductions. It is important to me and many of my House colleagues that HHSC implement these rate changes in a way that does not harm access to care.”

By Scott Braddock