Source: http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/archive/August42017/Proposed%20Rules/1.ADMINISTRATION.html
Timestamp: 2018-01-19 17:10:41
Document Index: 535688542

Matched Legal Cases: ['§355', '§355', '§355', '§355', '§2006', '§2007', '§531', '§32', '§531', '§531', '§355']

DIVISION 12. CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETISTS AND ANESTHESIOLOGIST ASSISTANTS
1 TAC §355.8221
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) proposes amendments to §355.8221, concerning Reimbursement Methodology. HHSC also proposes a change to the title of Division 12, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists.
The proposed amendment adds anesthesiologist assistants (AAs) to the reimbursement methodology for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and adjusts the percentage payment for a supervised anesthesia service for both CRNAs and AAs. In Texas, CRNAs and AAs may not practice independently and must provide services under the supervision of a physician. Currently, both CRNAs and AAs are reimbursed at the lesser of billed charges or 92 percent of the rate listed on the fee schedule. This proposed amendment would provide that CRNAs and AAs be reimbursed the lesser of the CRNA's or AA's billed charges or 50 percent of the calculated payment for a supervised anesthesia service. For example, if the calculated payment for a supervised anesthesia service is $100, the payment to the CRNA or AA would be $50.
The title of Division 12 is amended to add Anesthesiologist Assistants to the division.
Proposed §355.8221 is amended to describe the reimbursement methodology for CRNAs and AAs.
Greta Rymal, HHSC Deputy Executive Commissioner for Financial Services, has determined that for each year of the first five years that the section will be in effect, there will be cost savings to state government of $5,123,026 ($2,212,123 General Revenue (GR) and $2,910,903 Federal) for fiscal year (FY) 2018; $5,678,203 ($2,422,321 GR and $3,255,881 Federal) for FY 2019; $5,769,054 ($2,458,771 GR and $3,310,283 Federal) for FY 2020; $5,861,359 ($2,498,111 GR and $3,363,248 Federal) for FY 2021; and $5,955,141 ($2,538,081 GR and $3,417,060 Federal) for SFY 2022.
HHSC has determined that the proposed addition of a rate methodology for CRNAs and AAs under §355.8221 will have an economic effect on small businesses and micro-businesses. The proposed rate methodology indicates that reimbursement for services provided by a CRNA or AA will be equal to the fee paid to the supervising physician anesthesiologist. Each will be reimbursed 50 percent of the calculated anesthesiology reimbursement rate.
Under §2006.002 of the Texas Government Code, a state agency proposing an administrative rule that may have an adverse economic effect on small businesses must prepare an economic impact statement and a regulatory flexibility analysis. The economic impact statement estimates the number of small businesses subject to the rule and projects the economic impact of the rule on small businesses. The regulatory flexibility analysis describes the alternative methods the agency considered to achieve the purpose of the proposed rule while minimizing adverse effects on small businesses. The purpose of the proposed rule is to align the reimbursement for services provided by CRNAs and AAs with current market costs.
Based on available Medicaid claims data for SFY2016, HHSC estimates that approximately 38 percent of the total Medicaid expenditures for anesthesia services were for services provided by CRNAs or AAs, with 10 percent of those services billed by CRNAs or AAs individually. The estimated fiscal impact of this rule change is based on this claims data. There are approximately 750 CRNA and AA Texas Medicaid providers who may be affected by this rule change. However, HHSC does not know each individual small or micro-business that chooses to employ CRNAs or AAs to provide Medicaid services.
HHSC considered four alternatives to establish a reimbursement methodology for CRNAs and AAs.
Alternative 1: Alternative 1 proposes that CRNAs and AAs be reimbursed the lesser of the CRNA's or AA's billed charges or 50 percent of the calculated payment for a supervised anesthesia service.
Alternative 2: Under Alternative 2, HHSC would adjust the conversion factor in the payment calculation to allow for these small and micro business to be reimbursed at a higher rate.
Alternative 3: Under Alternative 3, HHSC would allow for small or micro businesses of less than 20 employees to be exempted from the proposed reimbursement methodology.
Alternative 4: Under Alternative 4, HHSC would make no change to existing reimbursement structure.
HHSC selected the Alternative 1 methodology for the proposed rules. Alternative 1 more closely aligns the reimbursement rates for other services within Texas Medicaid. Alternatives 2 and 3 were not selected due to the inability of the Medicaid claims processing system to identify and pay small or micro businesses differently. Alternative 4 was not selected due to HHSC's obligation to set economically efficient Medicaid payment rates. Providers will not be required to alter their business practices as a result of the amendment.
Pam McDonald, Director of Rate Analysis, has determined that for each year of the first five years the amendment is in effect, the public will benefit from adoption of the amendment. The public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing or administering the amendment will be the determination of appropriate reimbursement for CRNAs and AAs.
HHSC has determined that the proposal does not restrict or limit an owner's right to his or her property that would otherwise exist in the absence of government action and, therefore, does not constitute a taking under Government Code, §2007.043.
A combined public rule and rate hearing is scheduled for August 31, 2017, at 1:30 p.m. (Central Time) in the Brown-Heatly Public Hearing Room, 4900 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas. Comments will be accepted on the proposed rule and proposed rates at the hearing. Entry is through security at the main entrance of the building, which faces Lamar Boulevard. A rate hearing packet will be posted on the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Rate Analysis website at http://legacy-hhsc.hhsc.state.tx.us/rad/rate-packets.shtml under the proposed effective date of October 1, 2017. Persons requiring further information, special assistance, or accommodations should contact Amy Chandler at (512) 487-3419.
Written comments on the proposal may be submitted to Dan Huggins, Director of Acute Care, Rate Analysis Department, Texas Health and Human Services Commission, P.O. Box 149030, MC-H400, Austin, Texas 78714-9030; by fax to (512) 730-7475; or by e-mail to RADAcuteCare@hhsc.state.tx.us within 30 days of publication of this proposal in the Texas Register.
To be considered, comments must be submitted no later than 30 days after the date of this issue of the Texas Register. If the last day to submit comments falls on a Sunday; comments must be: (1) postmarked or shipped before the last day of the comment period; (2) hand-delivered before 5:00 p.m. on the last working day of the comment period; or (3) faxed or e-mailed by midnight on the last day of the comment period. When faxing or e-mailing comments, please indicate "Comments on Proposed Rule 1R054" in the subject line.
The amendment is proposed under Texas Government Code §531.033, which authorizes the Executive Commissioner of HHSC to adopt rules necessary to carry out HHSC's duties; Texas Human Resources Code §32.021 and Texas Government Code §531.021(a), which provide HHSC with the authority to administer the federal medical assistance (Medicaid) program in Texas; and Texas Government Code §531.021(b), which establishes HHSC as the agency responsible for adopting reasonable rules governing the determination of fees, charges, and rates for medical assistance payments under the Texas Human Resources Code, Chapter 32.
The amendment affects Texas Government Code Chapter 531 and Texas Human Resources Code Chapter 32. No other statutes, articles, or codes are affected by this proposal.
§355.8221.Reimbursement Methodology.
Effective for services delivered on and after October 1, 2017 [March 1, 2006], covered anesthesia services provided by a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) or an anesthesiologist assistant (AA) are reimbursed the lesser of the CRNA's or AA's billed charges or 50 percent [92%] of the calculated payment for a supervised anesthesia service. For example, if the calculated payment for a supervised anesthesia service is $100, the payment to the CRNA or AA would be $50. [reimbursement for the same anesthesia service paid to a physician (M.D. or D.O.) anesthesiologist.]
TRD-201702769