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1.2.6 Utilization Control - General Provisions
Title XIX of the Social Security Act, Sections 1902 and 1903, mandates utilization control of all Texas Medicaid Program services under regulations found at Title 42 CFR, Part 456. Utilization review activities required by the Texas Medicaid Program are completed through a series of monitoring systems developed to ensure the quality of services provided, and that all services are both medically necessary and billed appropriately. Both clients and providers are subject to utilization review monitoring. Utilization control procedures safeguard against the delivery of unnecessary services, monitor quality, and ensure payments are appropriate and according to Texas Medicaid Program policies, rules, and regulations. All providers identified as a result of utilization control activities are presented to HHSC OIG to determine any and all subsequent actions.
The primary goal of utilization control activity is to identify providers with practice patterns inconsistent with the federal requirements and the Texas Medicaid Program scope of benefits, policies, and procedures. The use of utilization control monitoring systems allows for identification of providers whose patterns of practice and use of services fall outside of the norm for their peer groups. Providers identified as exceptional are subject to an in-depth review of all Texas Medicaid billings. These review findings are presented to the HHSC OIG to determine any necessary action. Medical records may be requested from the provider to substantiate the medical necessity and appropriateness of services billed to the Texas Medicaid Program. Inappropriate service utilization may result in recoupment of overpayments and/or sanctions, or other administrative actions deemed appropriate by the HHSC OIG. There are instances when a training specialist may be directed to communicate with the provider to offer assistance with the technical or administrative aspects of the Texas Medicaid Program.
At the direction of the HHSC OIG, a provider's claims may be manually reviewed before payment. Parameters are developed for prepayment review based on the specific areas of concern identified in each case. As part of the prepayment review process, providers are required to submit paper claims, rather than electronic claims, along with supporting medical record documentation (e.g., clinical notes, progress notes, diagnostic testing results, other reports, superbills, X-rays, and any related medical record documentation) attached to each claim for all services billed. This documentation is used to ascertain that the services billed were medically necessary, billed appropriately, and according to Texas Medicaid Program requirements and policies. Services inconsistent with Texas Medicaid Program requirements and policies are adjudicated accordingly. Claims submitted initially without the supporting medical record documentation will be denied. Additional medical record documentation submitted by the provider for claims denied as a result of the prepayment review process is not considered at a later time. A provider is removed from prepayment review only when determined appropriate by the HHSC OIG. Once removed from prepayment review, a follow-up assessment of the provider's subsequent practice patterns is performed to monitor and ensure continued appropriate use of resources. Noncompliant providers are subject to administrative sanctions up to and including exclusion and contract cancellation, as deemed appropriate by the HHSC OIG as defined in the rules in 1 TAC §371.1643. Providers placed on prepayment review must submit all paper claims and supporting medical record documentation to the following address:
Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership
Attention: Prepayment Review MC-A11 SURS
PO Box 203638
Austin, Texas 78720-3638
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