Texas Register: Adopted and Proposed Reimbursement Rates

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) announced newly adopted interim per diem reimbursement rates for large, state-operated Intermediate Care Facilities for Persons with Mental Retardation (ICF/MR), including state schools operated by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services: $345.87 for Medicaid-only clients and $338.59 for dual eligibles. The public hearing was held [...]

Texas Register Updates: Reimbursement Rates for Medicaid Hospital Services

Last year, the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) proposed two amendments to implement a supplemental payment program to private hospitals. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved the proposed amendments. For more information about the amendments, visit the relevant section in the January 19, 2007, Texas Register. Submit written comments within 30 days [...]

Provider Letter: Expansion of the STAR+PLUS Program

The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) issued a provider letter to Community Based Alternative (CBA) providers about the expansion of the STAR+PLUS Program. To help CBA consumers transition to the STAR+PLUS waiver, DADS lays out some guidelines, including the following: 1. The CBA HCSSA is responsible for completing the annual reassessment activities [...]

MedPAC Seeks Medicare Reimbursement Increase

Although President George Bush reversed a proposed cut to physicians’ Medicare reimbursements late last year, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) will lobby Congress to increase reimbursements by about 1.7 percent in 2008. (Source) Reimbursement will be decreased by 10 percent under the present payment system, according to MedPAC, and it will urge Congress to [...]

House Approves Medicare Drug Negotiation Bill

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill that would allow the government to negotiate Medicare prescription drug prices. (Source) If passed by the Senate and signed into law by the president, the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2007 would nullify the part of Medicare Part D law that prohibits the [...]

Four New Provider Letters

Submission of the Hospice Election Form 3071 and Physician Certification of Terminal Illness Form 3074 The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) informed Medicaid hospice providers that it has updated its list of regional contacts for hospice election and certification forms to Community Services, Texas Medicaid and Healthcare Partnership, and Health and Human [...]

U.S. Supreme Court to Address Companionship Exemption Under FLSA

In mid-2004, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit became the first federal appellate court holding that the companionship services exemption under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) could not be used by home health agencies to avoid paying its home care attendants minimum wage and overtime pay. (Coke v Long [...]

Inch-by-Inch: The Fair Minimum Wage Act passes the House of Representatives

As proposed by the House of Representatives, minimum wage requirements would increase from the current standard of $5.15 to $7.25 in approximately three years. Introduced by Representative George Miller, the Fair Minimum Wage Act passed the House by 315-116 on January 10, 2007, and is expected to affect up to 13 million of America’s minimum [...]

Texas Register Updates: Sanctions, Health Passport, and SSI Gap

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has proposed a new rule titled, “Internet Posting of Sanctions Imposed For Contractual Violations.” Among other things, the rule would outline HHSC’s authority to impose sanctions on Medicaid Managed Care Organization’s that do not comply with contractual terms. This information would be posted on HHSC’s web site. [...]

More Texas Register Updates: Board of Nurse Examiners

The Board of Nurse Examiners has adopted amendments regarding Vocational and Profession Nursing Education. The amendments incorporate guidelines for faculty waivers into the nursing education rules, eliminating the need to issue waivers. For more information, see the relevant section in the January 5 Texas Register.

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