House Dems Fail to Override SCHIP Veto

Last Wednesday, Democrats in the House of Representatives failed to override President George W. Bush’s veto of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) expansion bill. Democrats were 15 votes short of the required 2/3 majority needed to override a presidential veto. (Kaiser Network)
Last year, Bush twice vetoed a bill that would have expanded SCHIP [...]

Texas Register Updates: Three Hearings, Income Exclusions Rule

The following information was obtained from the January 18 edition of the Texas Register:
Open Meetings
On February 4, 2008, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will conduct hearings on procedure codes relating to two physician-administered drugs, Eculizumab and Nelarabine (10 a.m.), proposed Medicaid payment rates for certain radiological service procedures (1:30 p.m.), and 12 [...]

CMS Proposes Policy Changes for Long Term Care Hospitals

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced policy changes for long term are hospitals. (Source)
According to CMS acting administrator Kerry Weems, the proposed policy changes are designed to increase incentives for long term care hospitals to provide more efficient and high quality care for patients. Almost 400 hospitals would be affected. From the [...]

Information Letters: Accounting System Upgrade, Etc.

The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) reminded all Long Term Services and Supports Providers that DADS is planning to upgrade its financial accounting system and expects a delay in payment processing for all claims billed while the system is unavailable. Download the letter for more information.
DADS informed Home and Community-Based Services (HCS) [...]

Can CMS Prevent States From Expanding Medicaid?

One ongoing issue in Congress will be whether the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has the authority to prevent states from expanding Medicaid coverage.
President George W. Bush twice vetoed measures that would have expanded the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). According to the Kaiser Network, the administration has restricted states like [...]

Texas Register Updates: Medicaid Payment Rates for Surgery

The following information was obtained from the January 11 edition of the Texas Register:
Open Meetings
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will hold a public hearing on January 30, 2008, at 1:30 p.m. in the Lone Star Conference Room of the Health and Human Services Commission, Braker Center, Building H, located at 11209 Metric [...]

Kaiser Releases Medicare Report

The Kaiser Network has released a reported titled “Financing Medicare: An Issue Brief,” which gives an overview of Medicare’s future, including funding issues and challenges.
In other Medicare news, lawmakers say they will resume the business of Medicare, State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and Medicaid policy changes in 2008. One issue on the list [...]

OIG Report: Physician-Own Specialty Hospitals Poorly Equipped to Handle Emergency Care

According to a report issued by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), only 55 percent of physician-owned specialty hospitals had emergency departments and 7 percent didn’t meet Medicare requirements that an RN be present at all times or that a doctor be on call if [...]

Information Letters: Specialized Nursing Services, Etc.

The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) informed Community Based Alternatives and Consolidated Waiver Program Providers about the addition of Specialized Nursing Services and associated rates. From the letter:

The addition of specialized nursing services is completed as a revision to the individual service plan (ISP) according to current policy and in the same [...]

Texas Register Updates: Major Consulting Contract, BON Amendments

The following information was obtained from the January 4 edition of the Texas Register:
Public Notice
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has issued notice of a contract awarded to Public Strategies, Inc. The contract was executed on December 12, 2007, and will expire on August 31, 2008, unless extended or terminated sooner by the [...]

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