The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) receives recommendations from advisory committees established through state and federal laws, rules, and regulations. The following advisory committees are approved by the HHSC Executive Commissioner:

1. (1) Children's Policy Council.

   1. (A) The Children's Policy Council is established under the Human Resources Code, Chapter 22, §22.035. The work group assists the HHSC Executive Commissioner and HHS agencies in developing, implementing, and administering family support policies and related long-term care and health programs for children.
   2. (B) The Children's Policy Council studies and makes recommendations on long-term care and health policies and submits a report on its findings and recommendations to the legislature and the HHSC Executive Commissioner each even numbered year.
   3. (C) The Human Resources Code, Chapter 22, §22.035, exempts the Children's Policy Council from the abolishment date required in the Government Code, Chapter 2110, §2110.008.

2. (2) Consumer Direction Work Group.

   1. (A) The Consumer Direction Work Group is established under the Government Code, Chapter 531, Subchapter B, §531.052. The work group advises HHSC on the development, implementation, expansion and delivery of services through consumer direction in all programs offering long-term services and supports.
   2. (B) The Consumer Direction Work Group makes recommendations to HHSC through regularly scheduled meetings and HHSC staff assigned to the committee.
   3. (C) The Government Code, Chapter 531, Subchapter B, §531.052, exempts the Consumer Direction Work Group from the abolishment date required in the Government Code, Chapter 2110, §2110.008.

3. (3) Drug Use Review Board.

   1. (A) The Drug Use Review Board is established under the authority of Title 42, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), 456.716. This advisory committee advises HHSC about criteria and standards for appropriate drug use in the Medicaid program.
   2. (B) The Drug Use Review Board makes recommendations to HHSC through regularly scheduled meetings and HHSC staff assigned to the committee.
   3. (C) The Drug Use Review Board is required by federal regulations and will continue as long as the federal law that requires it remains in effect. The continued need for the committee will be reviewed by August 31, 2016.

4. (4) HHSC Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Regional Advisory Committees.

   1. (A) The HHSC Executive Commissioner established the HHSC Medicaid and CHIP Regional Advisory Committees under the authority of the Government Code, Chapter 531, Subchapter A, §531.012 and Chapter 533, Subchapter B, §533.021. These advisory committees meet quarterly to discuss the implementation and operations of Medicaid and CHIP programs within the respective regions and to provide recommendations to HHSC.
   2. (B) The HHSC Medicaid and CHIP Regional Advisory Committees report quarterly and make recommendations through HHSC staff assigned to the committees.
   3. (C) The HHSC Medicaid and CHIP Regional Advisory Committees will be automatically abolished August 31, 2016.

5. (5) Hospital Payment Advisory Committee.

   1. (A) The Hospital Payment Advisory Committee (HPAC) is established under the Human Resources Code, Chapter 32, Subchapter B, §32.022(e). HPAC functions as a subcommittee of the Medical Care Advisory Committee (MCAC). HPAC advises MCAC and HHSC about hospital reimbursement methodologies for inpatient hospital prospective payment and on adjustments for disproportionate share hospitals. The committee advises HHSC to ensure reasonable, adequate, and equitable payments to hospital providers and to address the essential role of rural hospitals.
   2. (B) The HPAC makes recommendations to HHSC through regularly scheduled meetings and HHSC staff assigned to the committee.
   3. (C) The HPAC will be automatically abolished August 31, 2016.

6. (6) Medical Care Advisory Committee.

   1. (A) The Medical Care Advisory Committee (MCAC) is established under the authority of Title 42, CFR, 431.12 and the Human Resources Code, Chapter 32, Subchapter B, §32.022. MCAC makes recommendations to HHSC regarding health and medical care policy for the Medicaid program.
   2. (B) The MCAC makes recommendations to HHSC through regularly scheduled meetings and HHSC staff assigned to the committee.
   3. (C) The MCAC is required by federal regulations and will continue as long as the federal law that requires it remains in effect. The continued need for the committee will be reviewed by August 31, 2016.

7. (7) Informal Dispute Resolution Quality Assurance Committee.

   1. (A) The Informal Dispute Resolution (IDR) Quality Assurance Committee is established under Government Code §531.012. This committee advises the HHSC IDR program to ensure that the HHSC IDR program stakeholders are kept informed of IDR issues and to provide stakeholders with ongoing opportunity for input.
   2. (B) The IDR Quality Assurance Committee makes recommendations to HHSC through regularly scheduled meetings and HHSC staff assigned to the committee.
   3. (C) The IDR Quality Assurance Committee will be automatically abolished December 31, 2011.

8. (8) Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committee.

   1. (A) The Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committee is established under the authority of the Government Code, Chapter 531, Subchapter B, §531.074. The committee advises HHSC on the clinical efficacy, safety, cost-effectiveness and any program benefit associated with a drug product and develops recommendations for the preferred drug lists.
   2. (B) The Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committee makes recommendations to HHSC through regularly scheduled meetings and HHSC staff assigned to the committee.
   3. (C) The Government Code, Chapter 531, Subchapter B, §531.074, exempts the Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committee from the abolishment date requirement by the Government Code, Chapter 2110, §2110.008.

9. (9) Physician Payment Advisory Committee.

   1. (A) The Physician Payment Advisory Committee (PPAC) is created pursuant to the authority granted by Government Code, Chapter 531, Subchapter A, §531.012. PPAC functions as a subcommittee of the MCAC. PPAC advises MCAC and HHSC about technical issues regarding physician payment policies.
   2. (B) The PPAC makes recommendations to HHSC through regularly scheduled meetings and HHSC staff assigned to the committee.
   3. (C) The PPAC will be automatically abolished August 31, 2012.

10. (10) Promoting Independence Advisory Committee.

    1. (A) The Promoting Independence Advisory Committee (PIAC) is authorized by the Government Code, Chapter 531, Subchapter B, §531.02441. The task force advises HHSC in the development of a comprehensive, effectively working plan to ensure appropriate care settings for persons with disabilities.
    2. (B) The PIAC will meet at the call of the commissioner. Not later than September 1 of each year, the Committee shall submit a report to the commissioner on its findings and recommendations.
    3. (C) The PIAC will be automatically abolished August 31, 2011.

11. (11) Public Assistance Health Benefit Review and Design Committee.

    1. (A) The Public Assistance Health Benefit Review and Design Committee was established under the Government Code, Chapter 531, Subchapter B, §531.067. This committee provides recommendations to HHSC regarding health benefits and coverage provided under the Medicaid program, the Children's Health Insurance Program and any other income-based health care program administered by HHSC.
    2. (B) The Public Assistance Health Benefit Review and Design Committee makes recommendations to HHSC through regularly scheduled meetings and HHSC staff assigned to the committee.
    3. (C) The Government Code, Chapter 531, Subchapter B, §531.067, exempts the Public Assistance Health Benefit Review and Design Committee from the abolishment date required by the Government Code, Chapter 2110, §2110.008.

12. (12) Pilot Project Consortium; Expansion Plan.

    1. (A) The Pilot Project Consortium is established under the Government Code, Chapter 531, Subchapter G-1, §531.251. The consortium shall develop criteria for and implement the expansion of the Texas Integrated Funding Initiative (TIFI) pilot project and criteria to develop local mental health care systems in communities for minors who are receiving residential mental health services or who are at risk of residential placement to receive mental health services.
    2. (B) The Pilot Project Consortium makes recommendations to HHSC through regularly scheduled meetings and HHSC staff assigned to the consortium.
    3. (C) The Pilot Project Consortium will be automatically abolished effective August 31, 2012.

13. (13) Telemedicine Advisory Committee.

    1. (A) The Telemedicine Advisory Committee is established under the authority of the Government Code, Chapter 531, Subchapter B, §531.02172. The committee makes recommendations to HHSC on policy for telemedicine and telehealth services, development of telecommunication technology, and coordinating and monitoring related programs and activities.
    2. (B) The Telemedicine Advisory Committee makes recommendations to HHSC through regularly scheduled meetings and HHSC staff assigned to the committee.
    3. (C) The Telemedicine Advisory Committee will be automatically abolished effective August 31, 2016.

14. (14) Advisory Committee on Qualifications for Health Care Translators and Interpreters.

    1. (A) The Advisory Committee on Qualifications for Health Care Translators and Interpreters is established under the authority of the Government Code, §531.704. The committee advises HHSC on qualifications and standards for health care translators and interpreters for persons with limited English proficiency and persons who are deaf and hard of hearing.

    2. (B) The Advisory Committee on Qualifications for Health Care Translators and Interpreters, through regularly scheduled meetings and verbal or written recommendations to HHSC staff assigned to the committee, establishes and recommends qualifications for health care interpreters and health care translators. The committee will:

       1. (i) develop strategies for implementing the regulation of health care interpreters and health care translators;
       2. (ii) make recommendations to HHSC for any legislation necessary to establish and enforce qualifications for health care interpreters and health care translators or for the adoption of rules by state agencies regulating health care practitioners, hospitals, physician offices, and health care facilities that hire health care interpreters or health care translators; and
       3. (iii) perform other activities assigned by HHSC related to health care interpreters or health care translators.
    3. (C) The Advisory Committee on Qualifications for Health Care Translators and Interpreters will be automatically abolished January 1, 2021.

15. (15) Electronic Health Information Exchange System Advisory Committee.

    1. (A) The Electronic Health Information Exchange System Advisory Committee is established under the authority of the Government Code §531.904. The committee advises HHSC on the development and implementation of the electronic health information exchange system for Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, including any issue specified by HHSC and the following specific issues:

       1. (i) data to be included in an electronic health record;
       2. (ii) presentation of data;
       3. (iii) useful measures for quality of service and patient health outcomes;
       4. (iv) federal and state laws regarding privacy and management of private patient information;
       5. (v) incentives for increasing health care provider adoption and usage of an electronic health record and the health information exchange system; and

       6. (vi) data exchange with local or regional health information exchanges to enhance:

          1. (I) the comprehensive nature of the information contained in electronic health records; and
          2. (II) health care provider efficiency by supporting integration of the information into the electronic health record used by health care providers.
    2. (B) The Electronic Health Information Exchange System Advisory Committee makes recommendations to HHSC through regularly scheduled meetings and verbal or written recommendations to HHSC staff assigned to the committee.
    3. (C) The Electronic Health Information Exchange System Advisory Committee will be automatically abolished August 31, 2013.

Source Note:The provisions of this §351.3 adopted to be effective January 9, 2008, 33 TexReg 75; amended to be effective March 9, 2010, 35 TexReg 1951.