(a) In this section and Sections 533.002515 and 533.00252:
(1) Repealed by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 837, Sec. 3.40(a)(14), and Ch. 946, 2.37(b)(13) eff. January 1, 2016.
(2) “Clean claim” means a claim that meets the same criteria for a clean claim used by the Department of Aging and Disability Services for the reimbursement of nursing facility claims.
(3) “Nursing facility” means a convalescent or nursing home or related institution licensed under Chapter 242, Health and Safety Code, that provides long-term services and supports to recipients.
(4) “Potentially preventable event” has the meaning assigned by § 536.001.
(b) Subject to § 533.0025, the commission shall expand the STAR + PLUS Medicaid managed care program to all areas of this state to serve individuals eligible for acute care services and long-term services and supports under Medicaid.

(c) Subject to § 533.0025 and notwithstanding any other law, the commission shall provide benefits under Medicaid to recipients who reside in nursing facilities through the STAR + PLUS Medicaid managed care program. In implementing this subsection, the commission shall ensure:
(1) that a nursing facility is paid not later than the 10th day after the date the facility submits a clean claim;
(2) the appropriate utilization of services consistent with criteria established by the commission;
(3) a reduction in the incidence of potentially preventable events and unnecessary institutionalizations;
(4) that a managed care organization providing services under the managed care program provides discharge planning, transitional care, and other education programs to physicians and hospitals regarding all available long-term care settings;
(5) that a managed care organization providing services under the managed care program:
(A) assists in collecting applied income from recipients; and
(B) provides payment incentives to nursing facility providers that reward reductions in preventable acute care costs and encourage transformative efforts in the delivery of nursing facility services, including efforts to promote a resident-centered care culture through facility design and services provided;
(6) the establishment of a portal that is in compliance with state and federal regulations, including standard coding requirements, through which nursing facility providers participating in the STAR + PLUS Medicaid managed care program may submit claims to any participating managed care organization;
(7) that rules and procedures relating to the certification and decertification of nursing facility beds under Medicaid are not affected;
(8) that a managed care organization providing services under the managed care program, to the greatest extent possible, offers nursing facility providers access to:
(A) acute care professionals; and
(B) telemedicine, when feasible and in accordance with state law, including rules adopted by the Texas Medical Board; and
(9) that the commission approves the staff rate enhancement methodology for the staff rate enhancement paid to a nursing facility that qualifies for the enhancement under the managed care program.
(e) The commission shall establish credentialing and minimum performance standards for nursing facility providers seeking to participate in the STAR + PLUS Medicaid managed care program that are consistent with adopted federal and state standards. A managed care organization may refuse to contract with a nursing facility provider if the nursing facility does not meet the minimum performance standards established by the commission under this section.
(f) A managed care organization may not require prior authorization for a nursing facility resident in need of emergency hospital services.
(h) In addition to the minimum performance standards the commission establishes for nursing facility providers seeking to participate in the STAR+PLUS Medicaid managed care program, the executive commissioner shall adopt rules establishing minimum performance standards applicable to nursing facility providers that participate in the program. The commission is responsible for monitoring provider performance in accordance with the standards and requiring corrective actions, as the commission determines necessary, from providers that do not meet the standards. The commission shall share data regarding the requirements of this subsection with STAR+PLUS Medicaid managed care organizations as appropriate.

Text of section effective until April 01, 2025