The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
  (1) Advisory committee--In this subchapter, refers to an existing advisory committee that provides guidance to the HHSC executive commissioner and the agency on matters related to the Medicaid program and any quality-related issue and policy.
  (2) Authorized submitter--A member of the state legislature; the executive commissioner of HHSC; commissioners of DADS, DARS, DFPS, and DSHS; and chairs of the Medical Care Advisory Committee, the Physician Payment Advisory Committee, and the Electronic Health Information Exchange System Advisory Committee may submit suggestions of clinical initiatives.
  (3) Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)--The Texas State CHIP that is established under Title XXI of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. §§1397aa, et seq.) and Chapter 62 of the Health and Safety Code.
  (4) Clinical initiative--Any effort, project, intervention, or best practice currently being explored, tested, or examined to improve the quality of care for recipients of health care services provided by public or private insurers that can potentially be implemented under the Medicaid program.
  (5) Approved clinical initiative--Suggested clinical initiative that has met preliminary review criteria and been determined to warrant further analysis.
  (6) Clinical trial--A clinical trial is a type of research study conducted in the clinical setting that follows a pre-determined plan or protocol that compares one treatment against another. The treatment can be a new drug, a new invasive medical device, or care protocol on human subjects.
  (7) Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS)--The HHS agency that administers long-term services and supports for people who are aging and for people with intellectual and physical disabilities. DADS also licenses and regulates providers of these services and administers the state's Guardianship program.
  (8) Department of Assistive and Rehabilitation Services (DARS)--The HHS agency that administers programs for people with disabilities and children who have developmental delays.
  (9) Department of Family Protective Services (DFPS)--The HHS agency that works with communities to protect children, the elderly, and people with disabilities from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. It also works to protect the health and safety of children in daycare, as well as foster care and other types of 24-hour care. The agency conducts investigations, provides services and referrals, enforces regulation, and provides prevention programs.
  (10) Department of State Health Services (DSHS)--The HHS agency that is the state's designated public health agency.
  (11) Electronic Health Information Exchange System Advisory Committee--The committee established under §531.904, Human Resources Code.
  (12) Full analysis--A complete analysis of a suggestion for a clinical initiative that has met all preliminary review criteria. The analysis is conducted to determine whether the clinical initiative will improve quality of care under Medicaid and is cost-effective to the state. The analysis includes all elements described under Analysis of Clinical Initiative.
  (13) Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)--The single state agency that administers and oversees the Texas Medicaid program. HHSC is established by and its authority is described in Chapter 531 of the Texas Government Code.
  (14) Institution of higher education--As defined by §61.003, Education Code, is any public technical institute, public junior college, public senior college or university, medical or dental unit, public state college, or other agency of higher education as defined in this section.
  (15) Internet website--HHSC designated website related to the quality improvement process required under this subchapter.
  (16) Medicaid--The medical assistance program authorized and funded pursuant to Title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. §1396 et seq) and administered by HHSC.
  (17) Medical Care Advisory Committee--The committee established under the authority of Title XIX of the Social Security Act, 42 CFR §431.12, and §32.022, Human Resource Code.
  (18) Medicare--A federal system of health insurance for people over 65 years of age and for certain people younger than 65 years of age who have disabilities.
  (19) Physician Payment Advisory Committee--The committee created under §32.022(d), Human Resources Code.
  (20) Preliminary review--An administrative process that determines whether a suggestion for a clinical initiative warrants a full analysis.
  (21) Quality improvement--A system to continuously examine, monitor, and revise processes and systems that support and improve administrative and clinical functions.
  (22) State-operated health care programs--In this subchapter, refers to programs that are funded solely through state general funds and operated and administered under state laws and rules.
  (23) Suggestions--Proposed clinical initiatives submitted by authorized individuals either in written or electronic form.

Source Note: The provisions of this §354.2501 adopted to be effective January 1, 2014, 38 TexReg 9467