(a) The commission shall develop and implement a strategic plan to ensure that the citizens in this state residing in rural areas have access to hospital services.
(b) The strategic plan must include:
(1) a proposal for using at least one of the following methods to ensure access to hospital services in the rural areas of this state:
(A) an enhanced cost reimbursement methodology for the payment of rural hospitals participating in the Medicaid managed care program in conjunction with a supplemental payment program for rural hospitals to cover costs incurred in providing services to recipients;
(B) a hospital rate enhancement program applicable only to rural hospitals;
(C) a reduction of punitive actions under Medicaid that require reimbursement for Medicaid payments made to a rural hospital provider, a reduction of the frequency of payment reductions under Medicaid made to rural hospitals, and an enhancement of payments made under merit-based programs or similar programs for rural hospitals;
(D) a reduction of state regulatory-related costs related to the commission’s review of rural hospitals; or
(E) in accordance with rules the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services adopts, the establishment of a minimum fee schedule that applies to payments made to rural hospitals by Medicaid managed care organizations; and
(2) target dates for achieving goals related to the proposal described by Subdivision (1).

(c) Not later than November 1 of each even-numbered year, the commission shall submit a report regarding the commission’s development and implementation of the strategic plan to:
(1) the legislature;
(2) the governor; and
(3) the Legislative Budget Board.

Text of section effective on April 01, 2025