Revision 10-2; Effective June 1, 2010
§358.601. Rights.
An applicant or recipient has the right to:
(1) be treated fairly and equally regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, political beliefs, or disability;
(2) have information collected for determining his or her eligibility to be treated as confidential;
(3) request a review of an action;
(4) have his or her eligibility tested for other programs before HHSC denies eligibility;
(5) review all information that contributed to an eligibility decision; and
(6) request a fair hearing to appeal an action by HHSC.
§358.602. Disclosure of Official Records and Information.
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission follows 20 CFR §§401-403 concerning disclosure of information about a person, both with and without the person's consent; the maintenance of records; and the general guidelines in deciding whether to make a disclosure.
§358.603. Release of Medical Information.
A person requesting assistance on the basis of disability must complete a medical information release form.
§358.604. Responsibility To Provide Information and Report Changes.
(a) An applicant or recipient must provide the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) the necessary documentation and information to determine eligibility for Medicaid.
(b) An applicant or recipient must report to HHSC certain events that affect benefits in accordance with 20 CFR Subpart G.
§358.605. Fraud Referral and Restitution.
(a) The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) follows 42 CFR §§455.13-455.16 for issues governing fraud referral and restitution.
(b) HHSC evaluates a person's willful withholding of information for fraud, including:
(1) willful misstatements, oral or written, made by the person or the person's authorized representative in response to oral or written questions from HHSC concerning the person's income, resources, or other circumstances that may affect the amounts of benefits, including understatements or omission of information about income and resources; and
(2) willful failure by the person or the person's authorized representative to report changes in income, resources, or other circumstances that may affect the amount of benefits, if HHSC has clearly notified the person or the person's authorized representative of the person's obligation to report these changes.