HHSC – Attendant Rate Enhancement Update

The 76th Texas Legislature established the Direct Care Staff Enhancement program for nursing facilities and Attendant Compensation Rate Enhancement Program for community care providers (Rate Enhancement). The 81st Texas Legislature expanded the Rate Enhancement programs for providers serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). These programs provide funding to incentivize increased compensation, including increased wages and benefits, for attendants and direct care staff. Rate Enhancement programs are voluntary programs for Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) providers. Participating providers receive additional funding to their Medicaid direct care or attendant rates and agree to use that funding on compensation for direct care or attendant staff compensation. Program providers agree to spend funds to meet program requirements, or they will be subject to recoupment. The Provider Finance Department at HHSC has prepared an informational video on