Participant List Closure on March 8, 2024

Local Education Agencies (LEAs) that participate in the SHARS program are required to update their Participant List (PL) by March 8, 2024. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has informed LEAs of the current expectation that staff with roles described as transportation (bus) aides or monitors can not be included on the PL.

According to the 1 Texas Administrative Code §355.8443, failure to participate in or meet all time study requirements allows HHSC to recoup interim payments and to disallow a cost report for that reporting period.

Questions reguarding this policy change:

Question: Can the bus support staff be included in the PL using a different title, such as "paraprofessional"?

Response: No. The SHARS PL is intended to be a list of staff members who provide a SHARS-eligible direct medical service to a SHARS-eligible student on a regular basis. The job category is intended to describe allowable participation. Per HHSC guidance, bus drivers are not allowed to be on the list. Now, bus aides/ monitors are not allowed to be on the list. 

The Department of Health & Human Services - Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) investigates alleged fraud, waste, and abuse.  A referral to the OIG may be made if a Medicaid provider fails "... to comply with the Texas Medicaid or other HHS program policies, published Texas Medicaid or other HHS program bulletins, policy notification letters, provider policy or procedure manuals, contracts, statutes, rules, regulations, or interpretation previously sent to the provider..."

Question: Is specialized transportation still eligible for interim SHARS reimbursement?

Response: Given the current SHARS guidance for specialized transportation and personal care  service (PCS), these services continue to be eligible for interim claims. 

Specialized Transportation & Personal Care Services (PCS) Interim Claims Begining October 2022, gudiance for interim claims for SHARS specialized transportation and Personal Care Services (PCS) changed. SHARS providers are required to submit: interim claims for all personal care services that an eligible student receives within the cost report period; and interim claims for all eligible specialized transportation trips provided within the cost report period. Guidance for interim logs has not changed. Individual service providers are expected to document their services following the procedures in the Texas Medicaid Provider Procedures Manual (TMPPM).