(a) The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
  (1) HHSC contractor--A person who has a written agreement with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to provide a service to an individual in exchange for payment from HHSC.
  (2) Managed care organization or MCO--Has the meaning assigned in §353.2 of this title (relating to Definitions).
  (3) Personal attendant--
    (A) An employee or subcontractor of an HHSC contractor, or an employee of an employer in the consumer directed services (CDS) option, who provides the following services, as described in 40 TAC §49.101 (relating to Application):
      (i) services in the Community Attendant Services program;
      (ii) services in the Family Care program;
      (iii) services in the Primary Home Care program;
      (iv) day activity and health services;
      (v) residential care;
      (vi) in the Community Living Assistance and Support Services Program:
        (I) community first choice personal assistance services/habilitation (CFC PAS/HAB);
        (II) habilitation (transportation); or
        (III) in-home respite;
      (vii) in the Deaf-Blind Multiple Disabilities Program:
        (I) CFC PAS/HAB;
        (II) residential habilitation (transportation);
        (III) in-home respite;
        (IV) licensed assisted living;
        (V) licensed home health assisted living; or
        (VI) individualized skills and socialization services;
      (viii) in the Home and Community-based Services Program:
        (I) CFC PAS/HAB;
        (II) supported home living (transportation);
        (III) in-home respite; and
        (IV) individualized skills and socialization services;
      (ix) in the Texas Home Living Program:
        (I) CFC PAS/HAB;
        (II) community support services (transportation);
        (III) in-home respite; or
        (IV) individualized skills and socialization services.
    (B) An employee or subcontractor of an HHSC contractor who provides the following services in the Home and Community-Based Services--Adult Mental Health program, as described in 26 TAC §307.51 (relating to Purpose and Application):
      (i) assisted living services;
      (ii) in-home respite; and
      (iii) supported home living services.
    (C) An employee or subcontractor of an HHSC contractor or an employee of an employer in the CDS option who provides:
      (i) personal care services, as described in Chapter 363, Subchapter F of this title (relating to Personal Care Services); or
      (ii) CFC habilitation (CFC HAB) or CFC personal assistance services (CFC PAS), as described in Chapter 354, Subchapter A, Division 27 (relating to Community First Choice).
    (D) An employee or subcontractor of an HHSC contractor, or an employee of an employer in the CDS option or in the block grant option, who provides consumer managed personal attendant services as described in 26 TAC Chapter 275 (relating to Consumer Managed Personal Attendant Services (CMPAS) Program).
    (E) A provider or an employee of an employer in the CDS option who provides:
      (i) in the STAR+PLUS program and STAR+PLUS Home and Community-based Services (HCBS) program:
        (I) assisted living;
        (II) CFC PAS;
        (III) CFC HAB;
        (IV) day activity and health services;
        (V) in-home respite care;
        (VI) personal assistance services; or
        (VII) protective supervision;
      (ii) in the STAR Health program and Medically Dependent Children Program (MDCP):
        (I) day activity and health services;
        (II) CFC PAS;
        (III) CFC HAB;
        (IV) flexible family support;
        (V) in-home respite; or
        (VI) personal care services; or
      (iii) in the STAR Kids program and MDCP:
        (I) CFC PAS;
        (II) CFC HAB;
        (III) personal care services;
        (IV) day activity and health services;
        (V) flexible family support services; or
        (VI) in-home respite.
  (4) Provider--Has the meaning assigned in §353.2 of this title.
(b) An HHSC contractor, other than an HHSC contractor described in subsection (c) or (d) of this section, must pay a personal attendant a base wage of at least $10.60 per hour.
(c) An HHSC contractor that has a contract for financial management services (FMS) must ensure that an employer in the CDS option, or designated representative, pays a personal attendant a base wage of at least $10.60 per hour.
(d) An HHSC contractor that has a CMPAS contract must:
  (1) pay a personal attendant who is an employee or subcontractor of the contractor in the traditional service option or block grant option a base wage of at least $10.60 per hour; and
  (2) ensure that an individual employer of a personal attendant under the block grant option or CDS option, or the individual's representative, pays a personal attendant a base wage of at least $10.60 per hour.
(e) An MCO must require an MCO contractor, other than an MCO contractor described in subsection (f) of this section, to pay a personal attendant a base wage of at least $10.60 per hour.
(f) An MCO must require that an MCO contractor that has a contract for FMS ensures that an employer in the CDS option or designated representative pays a personal attendant a base wage of at least $10.60 per hour.

Source Note: The provisions of this §355.7051 adopted to be effective May 10, 2020, 45 TexReg 2826; amended to be effective September 1, 2023, 48 TexReg 4636