Texas Register Updates: HCS, Medicaid MCOs, Etc.

February 18, 2010 by  
Filed under HCS, Medicaid, Nurses

The following was obtained from the February 12 issue of the Texas Register: Proposed Rules HHSC proposes on behalf of DADS to amend Subchapter L, §2.553, concerning definitions; §2.554, concerning eligibility; §2.556, concerning MRA’s responsibilities; §2.559, concerning minimum qualifications; §2.562 concerning review process; new §2.555 concerning funding service coordination; and the repeal of §2.555 concerning [...]

Texas HHSC Proposes Medicaid Cuts

February 15, 2010 by  
Filed under Medicaid, Nursing Homes, Physicans

The Dallas Morning News reports that nursing facilities could see a two percent Medicaid cut if Texas Health and Human Services Commissioner Tom Suehs’s proposed reductions go through. To deal with a potential budget shortfall, Governor Rick Perry, Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, and House Speaker Joe Straus asked HHSC to reduce Medicaid spending by five [...]

Information Letters and News Alerts: Hospice, CDSA Providers

February 15, 2010 by  
Filed under HCS, Hospice, Medicaid

DADS released two information letters and news alerts. Medicaid Hospice Providers: DADS clarified its Continuous Home Care (CHC) requirements at 40 TAC, Chapter 30 Medicaid Hospice Program, §30.54 Special Coverage Requirements and informed hospice providers of problems identified during annual CHC reviews that result in recoupment of CHC payments. An excerpt: “Recoupment Process…Based on the [...]

The Political and Bureaucratic "Class" Thrives While YOU Suffer

February 14, 2010 by  
Filed under Funding Issues

Your excellence counts for nothing as they line their own pockets: “Pay for performance? Fuggeddaboutit! Congress keeps its automatic pay increase, and taxes, inflation, deficits, and the national debt all rise. Down Independence Avenue, Health and Human Services (HHS) bureaucrats get automatic pay raises and universal “outstanding” performance ratings. (Footnote: take a laptop with you [...]

Information Letter and News Alerts: DADS Removes Proof of Time Requirement

CBA, ICM HCSSAs, CWP HCSSAs, MDCP, PHC, FC, and CAS: After these providers shared concerns about a revision to the HCSS-CBA/ICM, HCSS-CWP/CBA, MDCP, and PHC/FC/CAS monitoring tools — which required that when attendant orientation occurred on the same day as the attendant’s first date of service delivery, DADS would require documentation of the time of [...]

Texas Register Updates: HCS, TxHmL, Board of Nursing

February 9, 2010 by  
Filed under HCS, Nurses

The following information was obtained from the February 5 issue of the Texas Register: Public Hearing and Notices HHSC will hold a public hearing on February 23, 2010, at 1:30 p.m., to receive public comment on proposed requisition fees that will provide payments to providers for the cost of acquiring dental services for consumers in [...]

Obama to Boost Medicaid Funding

While the president’s health care reform bill likely won’t pass anytime soon, he’s trying to beef up funding for programs like Medicaid, raise quality of care, and decrease Medicare fraud in his FY 2011 federal budget. He’s proposed an additional $25.5 billion in emergency Medicaid funding for states. (Source) Last month, Republican Scott Brown defeated [...]

Information Letters: CDSA, NF, HCS, TxHmL

February 2, 2010 by  
Filed under HCS, Nursing Homes

DADS released four information letters: CDSA for PHC: DADS explains the responsibilities of the employer and CDSA when individuals enroll in PHC (which includes PHC, CAS, and FC) program and opt to go directly on the CDS option. DADS also released a letter that contains instructions for case managers. For other details, download the two-page [...]

Texas Register Updates: Contract, Waivers, & PACE

February 1, 2010 by  
Filed under HCS, Medicaid, Nursing Homes

The following information was obtained from the January 29 issue of the Texas Register: Public Notices HHSC awarded contract 529-10-0082-00001 to Stanley M. Stewart, on an emergency basis, to analyze and make recommendations on statewide implementation of the Texas Integrated Eligibility Redesign System and provide consultation and support to provide short- and long-term solutions for [...]

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 [...]

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