(a) The commission shall develop and implement a strategic plan to ensure that the citizens of 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 that applies only to rural hospitals;
(C) a reduction of punitive actions under the Medicaid program that require reimbursement for Medicaid payments made to the provider, if the provider is a rural hospital, a reduction of the frequency of payment reductions under the Medicaid program 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 adopted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the establishment of a minimum fee schedule that applies to payments made by managed care organizations to rural hospitals; and
(2) target dates for achieving goals related to the proposal described by Subdivision (1).

(c) Not later than January 1, 2020, the commission shall submit the strategic plan developed under Subsection (b) to the Legislative Budget Board for review and comment. The commission may not begin implementation of the proposal contained in the strategic plan until the strategic plan is approved by the Legislative Budget Board.
(d) 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 described by Subsection (b) to:
(1) the legislature;
(2) the governor; and
(3) the Legislative Budget Board.

Text of section effective until April 01, 2025