Sec. 22.034. WORK GROUP ON LONG-TERM CARE SERVICES

(a) In this section, "long-term care services" includes community care services and support, and services provided by nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, group homes, intermediate care facilities for persons with mental retardation, and other institutional care facilities.

(b) A work group is created to assist the department and the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation in studying coordination of planning and services between the two agencies in providing long-term care services.

(c) The work group is composed of the following 20 members:

(1) two representatives of the department, appointed by the commissioner;

(2) two representatives of the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, appointed by the commissioner of mental health and mental retardation;

(3) two representatives of the Texas Department on Aging, appointed by the executive director of aging;

(4) one representative of the Health and Human Services Commission, appointed by the commissioner of health and human services;

(5) three consumers of long-term care services, jointly appointed by the commissioner and the commissioner of mental health and mental retardation;

(6) two advocates for elderly individuals, appointed by the commissioner;

(7) two advocates for persons with disabilities, appointed by the commissioner;

(8) two advocates for people with mental retardation and mental illness, appointed by the commissioner of mental health and mental retardation; and

(9) four long-term care services providers, jointly appointed by the commissioner and the commissioner of mental health and mental retardation, representative of the broadest array of settings listed in Subsection (a).

(d) A member of the work group serves at the will of the appointing agency.

(e) The members of the work group shall elect a presiding officer and any other necessary officers.

(f) The work group shall meet at the call of the presiding officer.

(g) A member of the work group receives no additional compensation for serving on the work group. Persons serving on the work group shall be reimbursed for travel and other expenses necessary for participation as provided in the General Appropriations Act.

(h) The work group shall study and report on coordination of planning and services between the department and the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation in providing long-term care services. As part of its study and report on coordination, the work group shall also study and make recommendations on the development of consistent and standardized:

(1) regulation of residential and community long-term care services;

(2) rate-setting processes for long-term care providers and services;

(3) contractor monitoring for long-term care providers and services;

(4) intake, assessment, referral, and coordinated case management procedures for long-term care services; and

(5) administration of the In-Home and Family Support Program operated by the department and the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation.

(i) The work group shall report annually to the commissioner, the commissioner of health and human services, and the commissioner of mental health and mental retardation. The report must include any recommendations on subjects the work group has studied.

(j) The work group is not subject to Chapter 2110, Government Code.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1505, Sec. 1.04, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.