Texas Register Updates: Per-Day Payments for Veterans Nursing Facilities

The following information was obtained from the May 23 issue of the Texas Register: Public Notices The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has adopted the following per-day payment rates for the state-owned veterans nursing facilities for fiscal year 2008, effective last September: Big Spring, $133.00; Bonham, $133.00; Floresville, $133.00; Temple, $133.00; McAllen, $133.00; [...]

Hospitals Hope Nocturnists Will Improve Quality of Overnight Care

An interesting story from the Wall Street Journal: In attempt to reduce the rate of deaths, medical errors, and complications, some hospitals are hiring doctors called “nocturnists” who work only night shifts. These hospitals are hoping the quality of overnight care will improve by hiring physicians and critical care workers to deal with whatever problems [...]

Information Letters: Billing for CMA Vendor Number Transfers, Form Revisions

The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) released two information letters: Billing Procedures for CMA Vendor Number Transfers In a letter to Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) Case Management Agencies (CMA), DADS clarified billing procedures for CMA vendor number transfers, which will be handled the same way as other transfers, except [...]

Provider Letter: Precertification Training for New ICF/MR Providers

The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) has released a provider letter to Intermediate Care Facilities for Persons with Mental Retardation or a Related Condition (ICFs/MR). DADS informed these providers about precertification training for new ICFs/MR. The rules require a new ICF/MR to designate at least one representative involved in direct management of [...]

CMS to Test Medicare Bundled Payments

Last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a program called the Acute Care Episode (ACE) to test hospital and physician services bundled payments in an effort to improve quality of care through Medicare fee-for-service. (Source) Under the current system, CMS pays the hospital a certain amount and pays physicians who cared [...]

Texas Register Updates: CLASS Waiver Services, Etc.

The following information was obtained from the May 16 issue of the Texas Register: Public Notices The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) issued two public notices: 1) an intent to submit an amendment to the Texas Home Living waiver, which would revise the methodology for establishing the rates for reimbursing the Consumer Directed [...]

Texas Register Updates: Medicaid Payment Rates, Texas Medical Board Amendments, Etc.

The following information was found in the May 9 issue of the Texas Register: Open Meetings and Notices The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has issued correction notices about proposed Medicaid payment rates for certain procedures associated with the 2008 Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System. The notices contained an incorrect phone number, procedure [...]

Resolution Eliminates Medicaid and Medicare Reductions

In the on-going battle to eliminate Medicaid and Medicare program reductions, Democrats in Congress have come to an agreement on a fiscal year 2009 budget resolution. (Kaiser Network) The $3.3 trillion budget resolution rejects President Bush’s proposed spending cuts for Medicaid and Medicare. Bush seeks to reduce spending on these programs by $195 billion. While [...]

Provider and Information Letters: DADS-Approved Provider of HCSSA Training, Etc.

The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) has released four information letters and one provider letter: Initial HCSSA Administrator Training Approval In a seven-page letter to Home and Community Support Services Agencies (HCSSAs), DADS described the initial process for becoming a DADS-approved provider of HCSSA training for administrators and alternative administrators, and to [...]

Texas Register Updates: Medicaid Reimbursement Rates, Etc.

The following information was obtained from the May 2 issue of the Texas Register: Open Meetings The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will hold a series public hearings on May 19, 20, and 23 concerning Medicaid reimbursement rates for various providers. For times and locations, please follow this link and scroll down for [...]

Next Page »