Texas § GV.526.0301 - STRATEGIC PLAN FOR RURAL HOSPITAL SERVICES

§ GV.526.0301. STRATEGIC PLAN FOR RURAL HOSPITAL SERVICES

STRATEGIC PLAN FOR RURAL HOSPITAL SERVICES; REPORT. (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; (2) target dates for achieving goals related to the proposal described by Subdivision (1); and (3) a rural hospital financial needs assessment and financial vulnerability index quantifying the likelihood that a rural hospital, during the next two-year period, will be able to: (A) maintain the types of patient services the hospital currently offers at the same level of service; (B) meet the hospital's current financial obligations; and (C) remain operational. (c) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, the State Office of Rural Hospital Finance established under Section 526.0304 shall submit a report regarding the development and implementation of the strategic plan to: (1) the legislature; (2) the governor; and (3) the Legislative Budget Board. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 769 (H.B. 4611 ), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2025. Amended by: Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 707 (H.B. 18 ), Sec. 2, eff. June 20, 2025.