In accordance with provisions of the Texas Health and Safety Code (THSC) Chapter 142, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) will accept accreditation by ACHC in lieu of Regulatory Services licensing survey activity for the categories of licensed home health services (LHHS), licensed and certified home health services (L&CHHS), personal assistance services (PAS), and hospice services. This letter replaces PL 14-27.
THSC ยง142.006(c) waives the necessity of licensing survey activity if DADS finds that a HCSSA has satisfied the requirements for licensing based on accreditation by an accreditation organization and the accreditation organization demonstrates to DADS that its accreditation standards meet or exceed the Texas state licensing standards adopted under the authority of the THSC, Chapter 142.
Based on a review of the ACHC current standards, survey practices and review procedures, DADS has determined that the ACHC standards and practices for review of LHHS, L&CHHS, PAS and hospice agencies in Texas meet or exceed the minimum licensing standards currently adopted for HCSSAs under Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Title 40, Part 1, Chapter 97, Licensing Standards for Home and Community Support Services Agencies.
An agency must be licensed by DADS and will be subject to complaint visits and enforcement actions in accordance with 40 TAC Chapter 97. An agency that loses or voluntarily discontinues its accreditation with any accepted accreditation organization will be subject to immediate licensing survey activity and enforcement.
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