Sec. 534.057. RESPITE CARE

(a) The board shall adopt rules relating to the provision of respite care and shall develop a system to reimburse providers of in-home respite care.

(b) The rules must:

(1) encourage the use of existing local providers;

(2) encourage family participation in the choice of a qualified provider;

(3) establish procedures necessary to administer this section, including procedures for:

(A) determining the amount and type of in-home respite care to be authorized;

(B) reimbursing providers;

(C) handling appeals from providers;

(D) handling complaints from recipients of in-home respite care;

(E) providing emergency backup for in-home respite care providers; and

(F) advertising for, selecting, and training in-home respite care providers; and

(4) specify the conditions and provisions under which a provider's participation in the program can be canceled.

(c) The board shall establish service and performance standards for department facilities and designated providers to use in operating the in-home respite care program. The board shall establish the standards from information obtained from the families of patients and clients receiving in-home respite care and from providers of in-home respite care. The board may obtain the information at a public hearing or from an advisory group.

(d) The service and performance standards established by the board under Subsection (c) must:

(1) prescribe minimum personnel qualifications the board determines are necessary to protect health and safety;

(2) establish levels of personnel qualifications that are dependent on the needs of the patient or client; and

(3) permit a health professional with a valid Texas practitioner's license to provide care that is consistent with the professional's training and license without requiring additional training unless the board determines that additional training is necessary.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.