| May 13, 2025 (Austin, TX) – Texas Health Care Association (THCA) applauds the Texas Legislature for passing Senate Bill 2269, cutting unnecessary costs and burdens on long-term care facilities in Texas. This bill restores fairness and efficiency to the state’s Informal Dispute Resolution (IDR) process for long-term care providers and ends the onerous practice of “double-dipping” penalties. SB 2269, authored by Sen. Charles Perry, was carried by Rep. Christian Manuel (who filed the companion bill, HB 4670). It ensures that decisions made by the Michigan Peer Review Organization, the independent third party contracted by the State of Texas to conduct IDR reviews, are binding on the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). The bill also ends duplicative penalties — aka “double dipping” — by preventing HHSC from imposing fines on top of those already issued by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for a single violation. “Today’s vote is a victory for common sense and due process in the oversight of the long-term care facilities that serve elderly and vulnerable Texans,” said Travis Clardy, President and CEO of the Texas Health Care Association. “We thank Sen. Perry and Rep. Manuel for their leadership. We also thank the Legislature for recognizing that care providers deserve a fair and efficient system that avoids piling on unnecessary, crushing duplicative penalties. This bill helps ensure continued accountability without undermining the stability of care facilities that Texas families rely on.” The legislation, having passed both chambers, is now heading to the governor’s desk to be signed into law. ### | 
