Quick recap

The meeting focused on addressing billing and payment challenges faced by providers under the Be Well and HHSC contracts. Participants discussed delays in receiving payments, with Be Well causing a 30-35 day delay for MOUD services and no payments received for YRC, RSS, and TTOR. Carrie highlighted the extensive process required for submitting invoices and receipts, which she felt was overly burdensome. Noelle explained that Be Well took over the work previously done by HHSC and suggested that the extra requirements were likely meant to protect Be Well in case of audits. The group also touched on challenges with CCMS reporting and the upcoming changes to how program income reports would be handled. The conversation ended with a brief discussion about holiday plans and a sharing of innovative programming initiatives at residential treatment facilities.

Next steps

• Noelle: Set up a meeting with Be Well and HHSC to discuss ongoing billing and payment delay issues, including the receipt documentation requirements and payment timelines.

• Noelle: Reach out to Be Well to schedule a discussion about cash flow management and payment schedules, particularly regarding net 90 terms and their impact on providers.

• Providers (as applicable): Document individual challenges with Be Well billing and payment processes and attempt to resolve issues directly before elevating to group or HHSC level, per HHSC guidance.

• Noelle: Continue to follow up with HHSC and Be Well regarding resolution of payment delays and reporting requirements, and update providers on progress, especially regarding the quarterly/annual match reports and deliverables.

  
  

Summary

ASAP Membership and Billing Updates

The meeting began with casual conversation about weather conditions in Texas, with Anna introducing herself as the new member of ASAP, who will assist with membership and programming. Noelle discussed ongoing technical issues and introduced Anna to the group. She also addressed billing challenges related to Be Well funds, noting that HHSC was hesitant to discuss third-party matters without their presence. To resolve this, Noelle planned to set up a meeting with Anna and others to address the delays.

MOUD Payment Delay Challenges

The meeting focused on payment delays for MOUD services, with Noelle noting a 30-35 day delay for BeWell services and Carrie describing extensive documentation requirements for RSS contract payments, including a 1-inch thick receipt catalog that took three people two days to complete. The group discussed challenges with BeWell's new verification requirements, which Carrie and Luci found overly burdensome compared to their other contracts, and Noelle explained that these requirements likely transferred from HHSC's previous process. Noelle committed to meeting with BeWell to discuss the payment timeline issues, acknowledging that while HHSC is mandated to pay within two weeks, the actual payment terms might be 90 days, which would require business adjustments.

Financial and Program Operations Update

The meeting focused on financial and operational updates, with Carrie reporting smooth payment processing despite some initial delays and Quincy confirming no current issues with HHSC payments. Noelle mentioned ongoing efforts to address form delivery challenges, explaining that quarterly reports may be transitioned to annual reporting to reduce administrative burden. The group discussed CCMS implementation challenges and the status of various program reports, with Noelle assuring participants that changes to reporting requirements were in progress. The conversation ended with Carrie sharing updates about their residential program's innovation initiatives, including a United Way-funded appliance repair training program and plans for a new women's residential facility.