Provider and Information Letters: NF, CLASS, HCSSAs, Etc.

DADS released one provider and two information letters: NFs: DADS informed these providers of new application requirements in Form 3720-N. Provider Letter 08-01 notified NF licensees that all applicants for initial licensure or change of ownership with an effective date of June 1, 2008, or later, were required to complete a new section of the [...]

Congressional Democrats Now Wary of Health Care Reform

In light of Republican Scott Brown’s defeat of Democrat Martha Coakley for the late Ted Kennedy’s U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts, Democrats in both houses of Congress are considering trying to pass health care reform in smaller bills rather than one large bill. During his campaign, Brown publicly opposed President Barack Obama’s health care reform [...]

Texas Register Updates: Medicaid Payment Rates

The following information was obtained from the January 22 issue of the Texas Register: HHSC will hold a public hearing on February 16, 2010, at 1:30 p.m., in the Lone Star Conference Room of HHSC, Braker Center, Building H, located at 11209 Metric Boulevard, Austin, Texas, to receive comment on proposed Medicaid payment rates for [...]

DADS Alerts: HCS News

DADS posted two alerts for HCS providers. 1) Providers have requested face-to-face HCS billing guidelines training. Consequently, staff from DADS Billing and Payment Unit will provide half-day training on the recent changes to the billing guidelines, to be conducted in multiple waiver contract areas together with scheduled billing and payment reviews until the spring 2010. [...]

MedPAC Recommends Adjusted Medicare Payment Rates

MedPAC, which advises Congress on Medicare, released a set of recommendations. (Source – PDF) An excerpt: “To restore budget neutrality, the Congress should require the Secretary to fully offset increases in inpatient payments due to hospitals’ documentation and coding improvements. To accomplish this, the Secretary must reduce payment rates in the inpatient prospective payment system [...]

Information Letters: Rehabilitation Services, CDS Option

DADS released two information letters. NF and Rehab Services providers: To expedite review and approval/disapproval process for Rehabilitation Authorization Requests, DADS will no longer return approvals by fax for Physical Therapy /Occupational Therapy and Speech, effective February 1. DADS will only return faxes for reasons (Exceptions to Requests) listed in the two-page letter. CDSAs for [...]

CMS: Health Care Spending Rate Slowest Since 1960

CMS issued an annual report on national health care spending that showed nominal spending in the U.S. grew 4.4 percent last year, to $2.3 trillion, the slowest rate of growth since CMS started tracking health care spending in 1960. The health care spending rate in 2007 was 6.0. However, health care spending grew faster than [...]

Information Letters: LVN/RN Form 3050, Etc.

DADS released three information letters: Hospice providers: DADS sent a corrected letter that notifies these providers that they can bill for ventilator services provided to residents in nursing facilities. In the attached letter, the corrections are indicated in red. (Letter) Day Activity Health Services providers: DADS determined that either an LVN or an RN can [...]

Texas Register Updates: Intervener Rates, Physician Services

The following information was obtained from the January 8 issue of the Texas Register: Public Hearing HHSC will hold a public hearing on January 26, 2010, at 10:30 a.m., for public comment on proposed rates for Intervener services in the DBMD, operated by DADS. The hearing will be held in the Lone Star Conference Room [...]

Physicians Criticize Bundled Medicare Payment Proposal

According to the American Medical News, published by the American Medical Association, Congress is considering a new policy of paying both doctors and hospitals under Medicare in one payment to treat a particular condition. This includes all office visits and procedures. The current health care reform bill would expand the proposed “bundled payment” system. Why [...]

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