Court Opinion

ID: 4670348
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-03-23 09:13:41.900178+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:10:26.068561
License: Public Domain

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

                                   NO. 03-19-00137-CV

 Appellants, McAllen Hospitals, L.P. d/b/a McAllen Medical Center and d/b/a Edinburg
Regional Medical Center and d/b/a Edinburg Children's Hospital and d/b/a McAllen Heart
 Hospital and d/b/a South Texas Behavioral Health Center; Fort Duncan Medical Center;
  Northwest Texas Healthcare System Inc.; and Laredo Regional Medical Center d/b/a
   Doctor's Hospital of Laredo // Cross-Appellants, Texas Health and Human Services
            Commission and Texas Health and Human Services Commission
                              Office of Inspector General

                                             v.

 Appellees, Texas Health and Human Services Commission and Texas Health and Human
 Services Commission Office of Inspector General // Cross-Appellees, McAllen Hospitals,
L.P. d/b/a McAllen Medical Center and d/b/a Edinburg Regional Medical Center and d/b/a
 Edinburg Children's Hospital and d/b/a McAllen Heart Hospital and d/b/a South Texas
  Behavioral Health Center; Fort Duncan Medical Center; Northwest Texas Healthcare
   System Inc.; and Laredo Regional Medical Center d/b/a Doctor's Hospital of Laredo

              FROM THE 261ST DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY
   NO. D-1-GN-10-002274, THE HONORABLE ORLINDA NARANJO, JUDGE PRESIDING

                          MEMORANDUM OPINION

              Appellants McAllen Hospitals, L.P.; Fort Duncan Medical Center; Northwest

Texas Healthcare System, Inc.; and Laredo Regional Medical Center (collectively, the

“Hospitals”) sued the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and its Office of

Inspector General (OIG) after the OIG sought to recoup funds previously paid by HHSC to the

Hospitals for Medicaid reimbursement. In part, the Hospitals sought a writ of mandamus to

compel HHSC to (1) review the OIG’s decision in a formal administrative appeal and (2) reopen
certain cases where HHSC and the OIG had concluded that the Hospitals failed to provide a

complete medical record. After the parties filed competing motions for summary judgment on

the Hospitals’ claims for mandamus relief, the trial court granted summary judgment in favor of

HHSC and the OIG, in part, and in favor of the Hospitals, in part. The Hospitals subsequently

filed a notice of appeal from the trial court’s summary-judgment order, and HHSC and the OIG

filed a notice of cross-appeal.

               We conclude that the recoupments at issue are not sanctions “arising out of an

investigation of fraud, waste, or abuse” under Rule 371.1601 and that, consequently, the trial

court did not err in granting summary judgment in favor of HHSC and the OIG on the Hospitals’

claim to compel HHSC to conduct a formal administrative hearing. We also conclude that the

trial court did not err in granting summary judgment in favor of the Hospitals on their claim to

compel HHSC to reopen certain cases. However, because the mandamus relief granted by the

trial court fails to conform with the relief requested and with the record, we will modify the trial

court’s summary-judgment order as to this relief and, as modified, affirm.

                                   LEGAL BACKGROUND

               Medicaid is a cooperative federal−state assistance program that uses public funds

to pay for healthcare services provided to needy recipients. Hawkins v. Dallas Cnty Hosp. Dist.,

150 S.W.3d 535, 537 (Tex. App.—Austin 2004, no pet.) (citing 42 U.S.C. §§ 1396-1396w5

(Grants to States for Medical Assistance Programs)). HHSC administers the Texas Medicaid

Program. See Tex. Gov’t Code § 531.021; Tex. Hum. Res. Code § 32.021. The OIG is charged

with investigating fraud, waste, and abuse in the Program, and for enforcing state laws relating to

the provision of Medicaid in Texas. See Tex. Gov’t Code § 531.102; 1 Tex. Admin. Code

                                                 2
§ 371.3 (HHSC, Purpose and Authority).1 In general, under the Texas Medicaid Program,

healthcare service providers enrolled in the Program provide medically necessary treatment to

eligible recipients and then seek reimbursement for the cost of those services by submitting a

claim to HHSC. See Tex. Hum. Res. Code §§ 32.029, .038; see also Texas Medicaid Provider

Procedures Manual (current version at http://www.tmhp.com).

               The dispute in this case arises from a disagreement about a process within the

Texas Medicaid Program known as the Texas Medical Review Program (TMRP) and, more

specifically, about the scope of the procedural protections afforded to service providers under

TMRP.2 The TMRP is “the inpatient hospital utilization review process HHSC uses for hospitals

reimbursed by HHSC’s prospective payment system.” 1 Tex. Admin. Code § 371.1(93) (defining

“TMRP”). The TMRP is implemented by the HHSC Utilization Review Unit within the OIG

and is governed by Subchapter C of Chapter 371 of Title 1 of the Texas Administrative Code.3

See id. §§ 371.200-.216 (Utilization Review).

               Under Subchapter C, HHSC selects cases for TMRP utilization review “by a

statistically valid random sampling methodology and/or focused case selection.” Id. § 371.201.

       1
          All citations to Title 1 of the Texas Administrative Code are to rules promulgated by
HHSC. Because the relevant portions of HHSC rules in effect at the time of the underlying
dispute have not substantively changed, the parties have cited to the current version of the rules
in their motions for summary judgment and in their appellate briefing. Accordingly, unless
otherwise stated, all citations to the Texas Administrative Code in this opinion are to the current
version of the rules.
       2
           State plans for utilization review are required by federal law. See 42 C.F.R. §§ 456.2
(state plan requirements), .23 (post-payment review process), .101 (utilization-review plan required
for inpatient hospital services). HHSC conducts the TMRP in accordance with applicable federal
law. See 1 Tex. Admin. Code § 371.200 (Inpatient Hospital Review Utilization Review Program).
       3
         Chapter 371 of Title 1 of the Texas Administrative Code is titled “Medicaid and Other
Health and Human Services Fraud and Abuse Program Integrity.” See id. §§ 371.1-.1719.

                                                 3
Among other things, the TMRP process requires HHSC to evaluate “the medical necessity of the

admission” underlying a service provider’s claim for reimbursement. Id. § 371.203(a)(1). “For

purposes of the TMRP utilization reviews, medical necessity means the patient has a condition

requiring treatment that can be safely provided only in the inpatient setting.” Id. In conducting

this evaluation, “HHSC reviews the complete medical record for the requested admission(s),”

including emergency room records, medical/surgical history and physical examination, discharge

summary, physicians’ notes, lab reports, diagnostic and imaging reports, pathology reports,

nurses’ notes, and therapy notes. Id. § 371.203(b). If HHSC concludes that the medical services

could have been rendered on an outpatient basis and that, consequently, inpatient admission was

not medically necessary, it notifies the service provider of the decision to retrospectively deny

the claim and directs the claims administrator to recoup payment. See id. § 371.206(a) (Denials

and Recoupments for TMRP, TEFRA Hospitals, and Facility-Specific Per Diem Methodology

Reviews). As to the service provider’s recourse upon receiving notification of an “adverse

decision regarding medical necessity of admission” from the Utilization Review Unit, Rule

371.208 of the Texas Administrative Code provides:

       [T]he hospital may appeal to HHSC. The written notification of adverse decision
       sets out the responsible area and time frame within which the appeal must be
       received by HHSC. The Texas Medicaid Policy and Procedure Manual provides
       additional information on the appeal process.

Id. § 371.208 (Appeals Related to Utilization Review Department Review Decisions); see also

Texas Medicaid Provider Procedures Manual (current version at http://www.tmhp.com).

                                               4
                               PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

               The undisputed evidence in this case establishes that the Hospitals are healthcare

service providers enrolled in the Texas Medicaid Program. In February 2010, the Hospitals

received a “Notice of Admission Denial(s)” from the Utilization Review Unit. In the Notice, the

Utilization Review Unit informed the Hospitals that it had reviewed approximately thirty-six

reimbursement claims previously submitted by the Hospitals and that the Unit had determined,

“after review of the information contained in the medical record(s), that the [inpatient]

admission(s) [on which the reimbursement claims were based] . . . were not medically necessary.”

Because the admissions had occurred years earlier and because the Hospitals had already been

reimbursed for the services, the Utilization Review Unit also informed the Hospitals that it was

processing “[a]n admission denial . . . for each admission” and that the payment on the claims

would be recouped. Finally, the Notice advised the Hospitals that if they were dissatisfied with

the Utilization Review Unit’s decision, they could submit a request for a written appeal.

               The Hospitals subsequently appealed the denial and recoupment decisions to

HHSC UR/Medical Appeals (the “Medical Appeals Unit”), as provided for by Rule 371.208 and

as directed by the Notice. The Hospitals’ appeal consisted of a written appeal supported by a

written explanation as to why the inpatient services were medically necessary. As to each

admission, the Medical Appeals Unit upheld the Utilization Review Unit’s decision to deny

the claim and recoup payment.       As to three of the admissions, the Medical Appeals Unit

explained in its written notifications to the Hospitals that it was upholding the Utilization Review

Unit’s decision because the “the documentation provided is incomplete and insufficient.” In

addition, the notifications informed the Hospitals that the Medical Appeals Unit’s “determination

is the final administrative decision in your appealed case.        Therefore, in accordance with

                                                 5
Medicaid program policies and procedures, this determination is now considered final and the

case is closed.”

               Despite the Appeal Unit’s assertion of finality, the Hospitals sent a letter to the

OIG Manager of Sanctions stating that they wished to administratively appeal the Utilization

Review Unit’s denial and recoupment decision and requesting that the OIG forward their appeal

to HHSC’s Appeals Division for docketing. The Medical Appeals Unit denied the Hospitals’

request by letter. The Medical Appeals Unit explained, “The administrative rules governing

hospitalization review are located at [Texas Administrative Code, Section] 371.208. Your client

has availed itself of its appellate remedies and there are no other available avenues for appeal.”

               The Hospitals subsequently filed suit against HHSC and the OIG, seeking in part

mandamus relief related to the defendants’ (1) refusal to forward the Hospitals’ request for a

formal administrative hearing for docketing and (2) denial of at least some of the Hospitals’

claims on the ground that the Hospitals had provided an “incomplete and insufficient” medical

record.4 The Hospitals subsequently filed a traditional motion for summary judgment on their

mandamus claims. In their motion for summary judgment, the Hospitals argued that they were

entitled to mandamus relief on their claim to compel HHSC and the OIG to forward the

Utilization Review Unit’s denial and recoupment decision to HHSC’s General Counsel for

docketing because, according to the Hospitals, they are entitled to a formal administrative appeal

under what is now Rule 371.1615. See 1 Tex. Admin. Code § 371.1615 (Appeals, formerly

       4
            The Hospitals also asserted claims for declaratory relief and alleged that the
defendants’ actions constituted a taking without due process of law and without due course of
law. HHSC and the OIG filed a plea to the jurisdiction based on sovereign immunity, which the
trial court granted. On appeal, the Amarillo Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s
jurisdictional ruling and dismissal as to all of the Hospitals’ claims with the exception of their
claims for mandamus relief. See McAllen Hosps. v. Suehs, 426 S.W.3d 304, 316-18 (Tex.
App.—Amarillo 2014, no pet.).

                                                 6
id. §§ 371.1667, .1669). The Hospitals also asserted in their motion that they were entitled to

mandamus relief as a matter of law on their claim to compel HHSC and the OIG to reopen all

matters where HHSC had denied the Hospitals’ claim due to an incomplete medical record

without providing an opportunity to supplement the record under Rule 371.206(a)(2). See id.

§ 371.206(a)(2) (outlining types of TMRP denials, including “a technical denial” “when a

hospital fails to make the complete medical record available for review”). In response, HHSC

and the OIG filed a cross-motion for summary judgment, asserting that the Hospitals’ mandamus

claims were premised on an incorrect construction of HHSC’s administrative rules and that, as a

matter of law, the Hospitals could not establish that HHSC had failed to comply with any

ministerial duty.

               The trial court subsequently signed an order denying the Hospitals’ motion for

summary judgment in part and granting HHSC and the OIG’s cross-motion for summary

judgment in part. As to the Hospitals’ claim to compel a formal administrative appeal, the trial

court granted summary judgment in favor of HHSC and the OIG. As to the Hospitals’ claim to

compel HHSC to reopen claims denied due to an incomplete medical record, the trial court

granted summary judgment in favor of the Hospitals. This appeal and cross-appeal followed.

                                 STANDARD OF REVIEW

               Summary judgment is proper if the movant establishes that there are no genuine

issues of material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Tex. R.

Civ. P. 166a(c). We review a trial court’s ruling on a motion for summary judgment under a

de novo standard of review. Lightning Oil Co. v. Anadarko E&P Onshore, LLC, 520 S.W.3d 39,

45 (Tex. 2017). When both parties move for summary judgment on overlapping issues and the

                                               7
trial court grants one motion and denies the other, we consider the summary-judgment evidence

presented by both sides and determine all questions presented. Texas Ass’n of Acupuncture &

Oriental Med. v. Texas Bd. of Chiropractic Exam’rs, 524 S.W.3d 734, 738 (Tex. App.—Austin

2017, no pet.) (citing Valence Operating Co. v. Dorsett, 164 S.W.3d 656, 661 (Tex. 2005)). If

we determine that the trial court erred, we render the judgment the trial court should have

rendered. Valence, 164 S.W.3d at 661.

               To the extent our appellate review requires us to interpret HHSC’s rules, we

review these questions of law de novo. CenterPoint Energy Hous. Elec., LLC v. Public Util.

Comm’n of Tex., 408 S.W.3d 910, 916 (Tex. App.—Austin 2013, pet. denied) (citing Rodriguez

v. Services Lloyds Ins., 997 S.W.2d 248, 254 (Tex. 1999)). Because administrative rules have

the same force and effect as statutes, we interpret administrative rules using traditional principles

of statutory construction. TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Co. v. Combs, 340 S.W.3d 432, 438 (Tex.

2011). Our primary objective is to give effect to the intent of the issuing agency, “which, when

possible, we discern from the plain meaning of the words chosen.” See Heritage on the San

Gabriel Homeowners Ass’n v. Texas Comm’n on Env’t Quality, 393 S.W.3d 417, 425 (Tex.

App.—Austin 2012, pet. denied) (quoting State v. Shumake, 199 S.W.3d 279, 284 (Tex. 2006)).

If the rule is ambiguous, we normally defer to the agency’s interpretation unless it is plainly

erroneous or inconsistent with the language of the statute, regulation, or rule.” TGS-NOPEC

Geophysical, 340 S.W.3d at 438.

                                   MANDAMUS STANDARD

               In this case, the parties filed competing motions for summary judgment on the

Hospitals’ claims for mandamus relief. A writ of mandamus may be used to compel a public

                                                 8
official to perform a “ministerial act,” which, for purposes of mandamus, is an act where “the law

clearly spells out the duty to be performed by the official with sufficient certainty that nothing

is left to the exercise of discretion.” City of Houston v. Houston Mun. Emps. Pension Sys.,

549 S.W.3d 566, 576 (Tex. 2018); Janek v. Harlingen Fam. Dentistry, P.C., 451 S.W.3d 97, 101

(Tex. App.—Austin 2014, no pet.) (quoting Anderson v. City of Seven Points, 806 S.W.2d 791,

793 (Tex. 1991)). “If an action involves personal deliberation, decision, and judgment, it is

discretionary; actions that require obedience to orders or the performance of a duty to which the

actor has no choice are ministerial.” Janek, 451 S.W.3d at 101 (citing City of Lancaster v.

Chambers, 883 S.W.2d 650, 654 (Tex. 1994)).

                                          ANALYSIS

Claim to Compel an Administrative Hearing

               In their first issue on appeal, the Hospitals complain that the trial court erred in

denying their motion for summary judgment on their claim to compel the OIG to forward their

request for a formal administrative hearing to HHSC’s Appeals Division for docketing.

               Subchapter G of Chapter 371 is titled “Administrative Actions and Sanctions,” and

Rule 371.1615, found in Subchapter G, provides that “[a] person who is served with final notice

of a sanction may appeal the imposition of the sanction.” 1 Tex. Admin. Code § 371.1615(a)

(Appeals). When the OIG receives a request for an administrative hearing at the Appeals

Division under Rule 371.1615, “the OIG contacts the Appeals Divisions . . . to request that the

hearing be docketed.” Id. § 371.1615(b)(8). In their motion for summary judgment, and now on

appeal, the Hospitals assert that the Utilization Review Unit’s decision to direct the recoupment

of funds previously paid to the Hospitals constitutes a “sanction” under Rule 371.1615 and that,

                                                9
therefore, HHSC had a ministerial duty to provide the Hospitals with a formal administrative

hearing, upon their timely request.

               In response, HHSC and the OIG assert that the trial court did not err in concluding

that the Utilization Review Unit’s decision did not trigger any ministerial duty on the part of the

HHSC to provide a formal administrative hearing because, in HHSC and the OIG’s view, a

recoupment directed as a result of Utilization Review is not a “sanction” as that term is used

in Rule 371.1615. Upon review of the relevant provisions set forth in Chapter 371 of the Texas

Administrative Code, we agree.

               Rule 371.1 sets out ninety-six definitions applicable to Chapter 371. See id.

§ 371.1 (Definitions) (“The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the

following meanings unless the contest clearly indicates otherwise[.]”). Among these definitions,

the term “[o]verpayment” is defined, in relevant part, as

       [t]he amount paid by Medicaid or other HHS program or the amount collected or
       received by a person by virtue of the provider’s participation in Medicaid or other
       HHS program that exceeds the amount to which the provider or person is entitled
       under [governing Medicaid law]. This includes:

       (A) any funds collected or received in excess of the amount to which the provider
          in entitled, whether obtained through error, misunderstanding, abuse,
          misapplication, misuse, embezzlement, improper retention, or fraud[.]

Id. § 371.1(55). In turn, Rule 371.1(72) defines the term “recoupment of overpayment” as “[a]

sanction imposed to recover funds paid to a provider or person to which the person was not

entitled.” Id. § 371.1(72) (emphasis added). Finally, Rule 371.1(75) defines the term “sanction”

as “[a]ny administrative enforcement measure imposed by the OIG pursuant to this subchapter

other than administrative actions defined in § 371.1701 of this subchapter (relating to

                                                10
Administrative Actions).” See id. § 371.1(75). Although Rule 371.1701 does provide a specific

definition for the phrase “administrative actions,” the rule does include a non-exhaustive list

of twelve actions that when taken by the OIG, qualify as “administrative actions.” See id.

§ 371.1701 (Administrative Action). That list consists primarily of non-monetary actions and

does not expressly include recoupment of overpayment arising from the TMRP.               See id.

§ 371.1701(c)(1)-(12); see also id. § 371.1701(d) (providing specific notice requirements for

administrative actions). Based on the definitions set forth in Rule 371.1, we conclude that a

decision by the Utilization Review Unit to direct the recoupment of funds from a provider may,

at least in some contexts, constitute a “sanction.” Nevertheless, for the reasons discussed below,

we cannot conclude that the Utilization Review Unit’s decision in this case is a “sanction” that

entitles the Hospitals to administrative hearing under Rule 371.1615.

               As previously discussed, Rule 371.1615 provides a right to an administrative

appeal for the imposition of a “sanction.” See id. § 371.1615. However, Rule 371.1601 states

that, “[u]nless otherwise provided, this subchapter applies to all administrative actions and

sanctions imposed by the OIG and arising out of an investigation of fraud, waste, or abuse.”

Id. § 371.1601 (Applicability). In other words, the provisions of Subchapter G, which includes

Rule 371.1615, are limited to sanctions “imposed by the OIG and arising out of an investigation

of fraud, waste, or abuse.” Id. (emphasis added). Therefore, any right to an administrative appeal

from a HHSC or OIG decision to recoup an overpayment is limited to those recoupment

decisions “arising out of an investigation of fraud, waste, or abuse.” Id. (emphasis added); see

Tex. Gov’t Code §§ 531.120 (“Notice and Information Resolution of Proposed Recoupment of

Overpayment or Debt,” providing that HHSC or OIG shall provide written notice of proposed

recoupment of overpayment or debt “arising out of a fraud or abuse investigation”).

                                               11
                  The procedures for conducting an “investigation” are detailed in Subchapter F of

Chapter 371. See 1 Tex. Admin. Code §§ 371.1301-.1312 (Investigations). For example, after

receiving a complaint, the OIG begins the investigation process by conducting a “preliminary

investigation,” as detailed in Rule 371.1305, and then “prepares a preliminary report before the

allegation of fraud or abuse proceeds to a full investigation.” Id. § 371.1305 (Preliminary

Investigation). The OIG begins a full investigation within 30 days of completing the preliminary

investigation if it determines that a full investigation is warranted.       Id. § 371.1307 (Full

Investigation).    The full investigation must be completed within 180 days unless the OIG

determines that more time is needed to complete the investigation. Id. § 371.1307(c). The

results of an investigation may subject a provider to a wide range of enforcement measures,

see id. §§ 371.1701-.1719, including exclusion from the Medicaid program, see id. § 371.1707

(Permissive Exclusion). Notably, if the OIG determines that an overpayment resulted without

wrongdoing, the OIG may refer the matter for routine payment correction by the agency’s fiscal

agent or an operating agency or may offer a payment plan. See id. § 371.1603(b) (Legal Basis

and Scope); see also id. § 371.1(84) (defining “system recoupment” as “[a]ny action to recover

funds paid to a provider or other person to which they were not entitled by means other than the

imposition of sanction under these rules” and “may include any routine payment correction by an

agency or an agency’s fiscal agent to correct an overpayment that resulted without wrongdoing”).

                  Because the Hospitals do not contend, and the evidence does not otherwise

suggest, that the recoupment decision at issue in this case arose out of “an investigation of fraud,

waste, or abuse,” see id. § 371.1601 (emphasis added), we conclude that, as a matter of law, the

Hospitals were not entitled to an administrative hearing under Rule 371.1615. Because HHSC

and the OIG did not have a ministerial duty to provide the Hospitals with a formal administrative

                                                 12
hearing, the trial court did not err in granting summary judgment in favor of HHSC and OIG

on this claim.

Claim to Compel the Reopening of Technical Denials

                 Next, we turn to the parties’ competing appellate issues challenging that portion

of the trial court’s order “compelling [HHSC and the OIG] to reopen all claims where technical

denial of claims were not issued.” First, we consider HHSC and the OIG’s issue on cross-appeal,

in which they complain that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of the

Hospitals on their claim to compel HHSC to comply with “proper procedures when reviewing

[medical] records for admission denials.”

                 In their pleadings in the trial court, the Hospitals alleged that HHSC and the OIG

failed to follow proper procedures when they denied some of the Hospitals’ claims on the ground

that the Hospitals had provided an incomplete medical record. Specifically, the Hospitals argued

that HHSC and the OIG failed to comply with Rule 371.206(a)(2), which outlines the types of

denial that HHSC may issue under TMRP and other similar programs. See id. § 371.206(a)(1)-

(5). In relevant part, Rule 371.206(a)(2) authorizes HHSC to deny an admission as a “technical

denial when a hospital undergoing TMRP fails to make the complete medical record available

for review within a specified time frame.” Id. § 371.206(a)(2). For mail-in review, the type of

review which occurred in this case, this process begins when HHSC requests, in writing, that the

hospital submit copies of medical records for utilization review. Id. § 371.206(a)(2)(B). If

the hospital fails to submit the complete medical record as requested, HHSC then issues a

“preliminary technical denial” by certified mail or fax. Id. Upon notice, the hospital then has 60

calendar days to, in effect, cure the “preliminary technical denial” by submitting the complete

medical record. Id. If the hospital fails to submit the complete medical record within this time

                                                 13
frame, HHSC then issues a “final technical denial.” Id. Based on the plain language of Rule

371.206(a)(2)(B), before it may deny a claim under TMRP review based on an incomplete

medical record, HHSC must first notify the hospital that it is issuing a preliminary technical

denial based on an incomplete medical record and that the hospital may supplement the medical

record within the specified time frame.

               In their motion for summary judgment, the Hospitals argued that, as to at least

some of the claims denied by the Utilization Review Unit and upheld by the Medical Appeals

Unit, the undisputed evidence establishes that HHSC and the OIG failed to comply with their

ministerial duty under Rule 371.206(a)(2)(B) to provide the Hospitals with an opportunity to

provide additional medical records before issuing a final denial of the claim. In support of their

motion for summary judgment, the Hospitals attached copies of written notifications received by

the Hospitals from the Medical Appeals Unit, in which the Medical Appeals Unit explained that

it was upholding the Utilization Review Unit’s denial as to three in-patient admissions because

the “documentation is incomplete and insufficient.” However, as the Hospitals point out, nothing

in the record—including in the “Notice of Admission(s) Denial” informing the Hospitals of the

TMRP and the Utilization Review Unit’s decision to deny the claims and recoup payments—

suggests that the Hospitals were ever informed that the Utilization Review Unit considered the

submitted medical record to be incomplete as to any admission, that the Unit was issuing a

“preliminary technical denial,” or that the Hospitals had 60 days to submit additional medical

records.   See id. § 371.206(a)(2)(B).    In other words, in the Hospitals’ view, the record

establishes that HHSC issued technical denials as to each of these admissions without first

providing the Hospitals with an opportunity to cure the incomplete medical record.

                                               14
               On cross-appeal, HHSC and the OIG assert that the trial court erred in granting

summary judgment in favor of the Hospitals on their claim for mandamus relief relating to

technical denials under Rule 371.206(a)(2). HHSC and the OIG do not dispute that the Hospitals

were never provided with a preliminary technical denial or any other opportunity to cure the

“incomplete and insufficient” medical record. Instead, they argue that only the OIG’s Utilization

Review Unit can issue a technical denial, and because the evidence establishes that the Medical

Appeals Unit, and not the Utilization Review Unit, issued the written notification upholding the

denial based on “incomplete and insufficient documentation,” the notifications do not constitute

“technical denials” within the meaning of Rule 371.206(a)(2)(B). Consequently, HHSC and the

OIG reason, the requirement of a preliminary technical denial does not apply under the facts of

this case. Based on the plain language of Rule 371.206(a)(2), however, we disagree with HHSC

and the OIG’s contention that only the Utilization Review Unit can issue a technical denial.

               While the OIG’s Utilization Review Unit has been tasked by HHSC with the

responsibility of carrying out utilization review and the Medical Appeals Unit has been tasked

with reviewing the Utilization Review Unit’s decisions, Rule 371.206(a)(2), by its express terms,

applies broadly to denials issued by “HHSC.” Id. § 371.206(a)(2) (“HHSC issues a technical

denial when a hospital fails to make the complete record available for review”); see id. § 371.1(34)

(defining “HHSC,” to mean “the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, its successor,

or designee”); cf., e.g., id. §§ 371.203(d) (specifically requiring that “the OIG” conducts training

for providers), .208 (specifically referring to appeals of decisions by “HHSC Utilization Review

Unit”). There is no dispute that both the OIG’s Utilization Review Unit and the Medical

Appeals Units are both divisions of HHSC.         Therefore, contrary to HHSC and the OIG’s

assertion, the requirements of Rule 371.206(a)(2) are not limited to TMRP decisions made by the

                                                15
Utilization Review Unit, and the rule does not carve out any exception for denials by the Medical

Appeals Unit.5 Consequently, a decision by the Medical Appeals Unit to uphold a denial based

on its conclusion that there is “incomplete and insufficient documentation” is, in effect, a

“technical denial” by HHSC within the meaning of Rule 371.206(a)(2(B).               Based on the

summary-judgment record, we conclude that HHSC failed to comply with its ministerial duty

under Rule 371.206(a)(2)(B) to provide the Hospitals with an opportunity to submit a complete

medical record before denying the Hospitals’ claims on this ground.

Scope and Form of Mandamus Relief as to Technical Denials

               Having concluded that the trial court did not err in granting summary judgment on

the Hospitals’ claim as to HHSC and the OIG’s failure to comply with Rule 371.206(a)(2)(B)’s

requirements for issuing technical denials with regard to at least some of the Hospitals’ claims,

we next consider the parties’ complaints as to the form of the mandamus relief granted on

this issue.

               In their second appellate issue, the Hospitals complain that, although the trial

court properly granted summary judgment in their favor on this issue, the court failed to issue the

precise mandamus relief requested and to include the details necessary for HHSC to comply.

Specifically, according to the Hospitals, they requested that trial court compel HHSC and the

        5
          In support of their argument that the requirements of Rule 371.206(a)(2) only apply to
decisions to deny made the Utilization Review Unit, HHSC and the OIG rely primarily on
the procedures for appeals outlined in the 2010 Texas Medicaid Provider Procedures Manual
(http://www.tmhp.com). To the extent the procedures in the Manual represent HHSC’s formal
interpretation of Rule 371.206, its own administrative rule, we conclude that this interpretation
conflicts with the plain language of the rule and that, as a result, the language of the rule itself
controls. See TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Co. v. Combs, 340 S.W.3d 432, 438 (Tex. 2011)
(explaining that we do not defer to agency’s interpretation if it “fails to follow clear,
unambiguous language of its own regulations”).

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OIG to “comply with the technical denial process set forth in [Rule 371.206(a)(2)(B)]” and to

“reopen all matters where [HHSC and the OIG] recouped payments from [the Hospitals] without

first issuing a technical denial and without permitting [the Hospitals] to supplement the medical

records within the time period specified by law.” In contrast, the trial court’s order states simply

that the OIG must “reopen all claims where technical denial of claims were not issued.” The

Hospitals request that we modify this portion of the judgment and “render the writ of mandamus

relating to technical denials with sufficient specificity to effectuate the trial court’s ruling.” See

Etheridge v. Opitz, 580 S.W.3d 167, 183 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2019, pet. dism’d) (“We have the

authority to modify incorrect judgments when the necessary information is available to do so.”

(citing Tex. R. App. P. 43.2(b))).

               Similarly, HHSC and the OIG argue that the order’s language is “void for

vagueness, lack of definitiveness or specificity, and lack of support by summary-judgment

evidence.” They contend that by requiring the Utilization Review Unit to “reopen all claims

where technical denial of claims were not issued,” the trial court’s order (presumably, in error) in

fact requires the Unit to open claims where the Hospitals had submitted a complete medical

record. In addition, HHSC and the OIG point out that the only claims identified by the Hospitals

in their motion for summary judgment were the three specific admissions that were the subject of

the Medical Appeals Unit’s written notifications of “insufficient documentation.” Therefore,

HHSC and the OIG assert, any mandamus relief should be limited to these three denials.

               In effect, the parties agree that the form of the mandamus relief granted by the

trial court is erroneous. The Hospitals assert that the mandamus relief granted fails to comport

with the relief as requested in their motion for summary judgment and lacks details necessary

for compliance; HHSC and the OIG assert that, even if the summary judgment is otherwise

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proper, the scope of the relief granted does not conform to the summary-judgment record

and is overbroad.      Based on the pleadings and the record before us, we agree with the

parties’ contentions. Because we must grant the relief the trial court should have, see Dorsett,

164 S.W.3d at 661, we modify the second paragraph of the order by removing it and replacing it

with the following:

       IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that Plaintiffs’
       Motion for Summary Judgment is granted in part and, accordingly, as to the
       denials issued by HHSC and reflected in the Medical Appeals Unit’s three written
       notifications (dated: June 3, 2010; February 24, 2010; and June 2, 2010; and
       labeled: TPI#: 094113001; TPI# 094217902; and TPI# 094113001, respectively)
       HHSC must withdraw it denials on these claims, reopen these claims, and comply
       with the procedures set forth in Rule 371.206(B)(2) by issuing a preliminary
       technical denial by certified mail and notifying the Hospitals that they have 60
       calendar days from the date of the notice to submit the complete medical record
       and that if they do not, HHSC will issue a final technical denial.

See Tex. R. App. P. 43.2(b) (authorizing courts of appeals to modify trial court’s judgment and

affirm as modified).

                                        CONCLUSION

       Having sustained the Hospitals’ second issue on appeal, we modify the judgment, as

described above, and affirm the trial court’s summary-judgment order as modified.

                                            __________________________________________
                                            Chari L. Kelly, Justice

Before Justices Goodwin, Kelly, and Smith

Modified and, as Modified, Affirmed

Filed: March 18, 2021

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