Information Letters: RUGs Questions, OCS through CDS Option

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

RUGs Information Requiring Special Attention

DADS issued an information letter to Nursing Facility providers to share questions that require special attention. DADS provided four questions and responses in a three-page letter. Example:

Question 4: When calling PCS, what type of calls can be escalated to [...]

Texas Register Updates: Board of Nursing Adopts Amendments

The following information was obtained from the December 26 issue of the Texas Register:
Adopted Rules
The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) adopted an amendment to 22 TAC §211.6, pertaining to Committees of the Board, which adds language to the rule reflecting the establishment of the Eligibility and Disciplinary Advisory Committee, which was known as the Eligibility [...]

Nursing Facility Industry Experts Question Five Star Rating System

In the previous entry, I mentioned DADS’s new Five Star Rating System for nursing homes. These facilities will be rated on health inspections, staffing, and quality. Kaiser Network is reporting than nursing facility industry experts say the new system is stricter in some states than others, which may result in better facilities in certain states. [...]

DADS Alerts: CLASS Clarification, Etc.

The Texas Department and Aging and Disability Services (DADS) notified Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) providers that Form 8604, the Transition Assistance Services (TAS) Assessment and Authorization, has been replaced by Form 3621-A, CLASS Transition Assistance Services. See the TAS handbook for more information.
DADS is offering new forms for programs like Deaf/Blind [...]

Information Letters: Service Authorization Notifications

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

Service Authorization Notification for Emergency Dental Services

DADS informed Nursing Facility providers about a change in the notification process for clients receiving authorizations for Emergency Dental Services, effective December 11. DADS will no longer send a fax notification to providers when the service authorization(s) [...]

Medicare Advantage and Part D Under Obama

Last summer, President George W. Bush vetoed a bill that would have halted a 10.6 percent Medicare physicians pay cut. Democrats proposed to reduce payments to Medicare Advantage (MA) plans to fund the physicians pay cut.
President Bush reportedly vetoed the bill because it would “harm beneficiaries by taking private health plan options away from [...]

Texas Register Updates: Outpatient Services Rule Alignment

The following information was obtained from the December 12 issue of the Texas Register:
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) intends to submit an amendment to the Texas State Plan for Medical Assistance, under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, which would comply with the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services final rule [...]

Medicare News: MedPAC and Part D

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) has recommended that hospitals receive full market basket Medicare payment increases in fiscal year 2010. (Kaiser Network)
Among the proposals is a 1.6 percent payment increase recommendation for long term care hospitals based on quality of care delivered. A final vote will come in January. MedPAC advises Congress on Medicare [...]

DADS Alerts: CMS Revises Hospice Conditions of Participation; Christmas Schedule

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently revised the existing Hospice Conditions of Participation. Effective December 2, 2008, hospices must meet the revised conditions of participation (CoPs), found at 42 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 418, to participate in Medicare and Medicaid programs. Download a PDF copy of the revised CoPs.
For more information, [...]

Information Letters: Ventilators and Tracheostomies Reimbursements, Etc.

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

DADS Supplemental Reimbursement for Ventilators and Tracheostomies

In a letter to Nursing Facility (NF) providers, DADS reminded them about the reimbursement rules at Texas Administrative Code, Title 1, Part 15, Chapter 355, §355.307(b)(3)(F) and(G), which states that qualifying ventilator-dependent residents and qualifying children with tracheostomies [...]

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