Information Letters: DADS Community Programs Rate Increase, Etc.

The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) released five information letters:

Payment Rates for DADS Community Programs

DADS informed Community Service Providers that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has approved a rate increase to recognize the impact of the increase in the federal minimum wage on certain provider types, effective August 1, [...]

The Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act of 2008

Congress is considering the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act of 2008, which make pre-admission arbitration agreements invalid and unenforceable. The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial Law and Administrative Law just approved the bill and refused amendments which would prevent it from being applied retroactively, among other things.
Specifically, the bill:
…requires that agreements to arbitrate [...]

Medicare Pays Up to 30 Percent More for Medications Under Part D Plans

According to a report released by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Medicare Part D paid about 30 percent more for prescription drugs in the program’s first two years than Medicaid would have paid for the same drugs. This has cost the program about $3.7 billion. (Kaiser Network)
Drug company Johnson & Johnson received [...]

Congress Delays Medicare Trigger Bill

Under the 2003 Medicare law, the president is required to propose a savings bill if Medicare trustees warn two consecutive years that the program will draw 45 percent of funding from the general government revenue. (Kaiser Network)
Last Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 231-184 to delay the president’s “trigger” bill for the rest of [...]

Texas Register Updates: Medicare Reimbursement Methodologies, Etc.

The following information was obtained from the July 25 issue of the Texas Register:
Adopted Rules
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has adopted a new §355.8054, concerning Children’s Hospital Reimbursement Methodology, which will separate the Medicaid reimbursement methodologies for children’s hospitals into a stand-alone rule to clarify definitions, processes, and timing related to children’s [...]

Information Letters: Criminal History Checks, Etc.

The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) released four information letters:

Criminal History, Employee Misconduct Registry and Nurse Aide Registry Checks

In a letter to Home and Community-based Services (HCS) and Texas Home Living (TxHmL) Providers, DADS clarified existing HCS and TxHmL program rules regarding concerning background checks required for all employees of an HCS [...]

E-Prescribing and Lock-In Pricing

If a physician adopts e-prescribing technology in 2009 and 2010, he/she will receive a 2 percent bonus in Medicare payments. Those who don’t will see reductions in reimbursements. (Kaiser Network)
Contained in the bill that delays a 10.6 percent Medicare reimbursement rate cut are details of an electronic prescribing incentive program, which is designed to save [...]

Texas Register Updates: Typographical Error, Proposed Repeals, Etc.

The following information was obtained from the July 18 issue of the Texas Register:
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has proposed the repeal of §§371.212 – 371.214 and new §371.212 and §371.214, because of a typographical error in the fax number listed in the Public Comment section of the preamble of the proposal. [...]

Bush Vetoes Medicare Bill, Congress Overrides Veto

Things are moving fast. As we mentioned last week, President George W. Bush was set to veto a bill that would halt a 10.6 percent Medicare physicians pay cut. Yesterday, the president vetoed the bill, despite the bill passing both houses of Congress by veto-proof margins in recent weeks.
President Bush wrote that he vetoed the [...]

Medicare Audit Recovers $700 Million In Improper Payments

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), private auditors have recovered close to $700 million in improper Medicare payments to providers in six states, including New York, California, and Florida.
Eighty-five percent of overpayments was collected from inpatient hospitals, six percent from inpatient rehab facilities, and four percent from outpatient hospital providers.
CMS [...]

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