The Texas State Senate News
AUSTIN - On Tuesday, December 2, Senator Mike Moncrief of Fort Worth led a meeting of the Senate Interim Committee on Home Health and Assisted Living Facilities at the State Capitol. The committee is responsible for reviewing current conditions of home health options and assisted living facilities for the elderly, disabled, those experiencing problems with rural health care systems, and those requiring short-term intensive care. Serving on the committee with Chair Moncrief are Senators Gonzalo Barrientos of Austin, Mario Gallegos of Houston, Jane Nelson of Flower Mound, and Drew Nixon of Carthage.
The committee was briefed on a recent lawsuit concerning the Affiliated Professional Home Health Care Agency (A PRO) and alleged differences in standards of care relating to race. The members also reviewed the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 which lays out Federal Medicare Savings, Traditional Medicare Home Health Benefits, and recent changes in the Act.
The members heard testimony on the state's regulatory framework for home health care and rehabilitation services industries as well as personal care homes and assisted living facilities. Those testifying were representatives from the Texas Association for Home Care, Inc., the American Association of Retired Persons, the Disability Policy Consortium, the Texas Assisted Living Association, and the Texas Organization of Residential Care Homes. The members also heard testimony from concerned citizens and those affected by the problems discussed.
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