Texas Register Updates: Adopted Rules

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has adopted an amendment to the Medicaid Managed Care section of the rules. The amendment updates the definition of Value-added Services. Pursuant to Senate Bill 10, HHSC is to “actively encourage” HHSC-contracted Medicare managed organizations to offer value-added benefits.
HHSC also adopted an amendment regarding the Consumer Directed [...]

Medicare News: Preventive Services Coverage, Conflict of Interest Referrals, Etc.

The Kaiser Network reports Medicare is spending more on preventive services and screenings, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services (CMS). This isn’t news, but it’s interesting to note that fewer than 10 percent of beneficiaries receive preventive screenings and immunizations recommended by health care professionals.
In other Medicare news, CMS has issued a [...]

DADS Letters: Individual Cost Limits, New Convictions

The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) informed Community Services Waiver Providers about the increase in individual cost limits for six Medicaid waiver programs operated by DADS. The three-page August 20 letter includes of a breakdown of cost limits for such programs as the Consolidated Waiver Program and the Deaf-Blind with Multiple Disabilities [...]

Texas Register Updates: Obsolete Rule Deletions, Public Meeting Notices

The Board of Nurse Examiners has proposed amendments to delete obsolete portions of rules pertaining to Practice and Procedure. The proposed amendments were reviewed by the Board’s Eligibility and Disciplinary Task Force on July 13, 2007, and the Board and task force recommended approval. For more information, see the relevant section of the August 17 [...]

Medicare Won’t Cover Preventable Errors

Medicare will no longer pay for “treating preventable errors, injuries and infections that occur in hospitals,” according to the New York Times. Such preventable errors include leaving a sponge or other object inside a patient during surgery and giving a patient the wrong blood.
Such a policy obviously will put pressure on hospitals to get it [...]

Information and Provider Letters: Per Diem Rates, Hurricane Preparedness, Etc.

On August 15, the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) issued an information letter to Nursing Facility Administrators and Hospice Directors about the approval of new per diem payment rates for the Nursing Facility Program (NF), the Hospice Program in NFs, and the Swing Bed Program, effective September 1, 2007 through August 31, 2008. [...]

But Can He Take Vital Signs?

Patches the horse:

Information Letters: Revised Notices for Fiscal Year 2007 Cutoff Dates

Last week, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services issued several information letters regarding revised notices for fiscal year 2007 cutoff dates. Please click on the links below to download the letters:

Community Services Providers, Nursing Facility Providers, Therapy Providers
Home and Community-Based Service and Texas Home Living Waiver Providers
Intermediate Care Facilities for Persons with Mental [...]

Think Tank Strives to Reduce Medication Errors

Another Washington-based think tank has cropped up. According to the Kaiser Network, a group of doctors, pharmacies, health insurers and others have formed an organization to help reduce medication errors.
The new organization will dedicate itself to promoting “best practices for the use of electronic prescribing technology that links physicians, pharmacists and patients.”
“Because medication nonadherence is [...]

Tropical Storms and Texas

There are two tropical storms presently aimed at the Texas Coast. Here is the latest on Tropical Storm Erin:

Here is its projected path:

In the Gulf of Mexico, Tropical depression Five took shape last night, and has been upgraded to Tropical Storm Erin at 10 am CT moving northwest toward the southeastern Texas Coast.
Conditions appear [...]

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