Can You Spot the Red Flags of Medical Identity Theft? FTC Rule Enforcement Now Begins November 1, 2009

The Red Flags Rule, designed to prevent and detect identity theft, takes effect August 1. Health care providers should carefully review the Rule’s definitions, because you may be surprised at how many health professionals are considered “creditors” who must develop Identity Theft Prevention Programs. The Red Flags Rule, 16 CFR § 681, applies to “financial [...]

New Review Process for Waiver Programs

The reviewers will be using standardized checklists as part of the new review process. The good news is that these checklists are available for providers and may be printed and used as internal QA.

Medicare Fraud Strike Force in Texas

According to the Houston Chronicle, there’s a federal Medicare fraud strike force on the loose in Texas. The article highlights a number of Houston-area clinics committing Medicare fraud. Medicare fraud in the U.S. last year totaled $2.35 billion. There were 575 health fraud criminal actions and 342 civil actions filed. The task force has reduced [...]

Mental Health Parity Act Effective Date Delayed Until January 2010

New requirements for employee health care plans originally scheduled to go into effect next month now have been delayed for at least a few more months. Congress has deferred the effective date of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPA) until January 2010. The MHPA does not require health insurance plans to provide [...]

CMS to Offer Nursing Home Quality of Care Incentive

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced last week that it will offer cash incentives to improve quality of care at nursing homes. CMS will ask Arizona, Mississippi, New York, and Wisconsin to participate. (Source) Quality of care areas include nurse staffing and the scope and severity of deficiency citations the home has [...]

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Services (CLASS) providers that Form 8604, the Transition Assistance Services (TAS) Assessment and Authorization, has been replaced by Form 3621-A, CLASS Transition Assistance Services.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 [...]

CMS Seeks to Improve Outpatient Quality of Care

Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a final rule that restates its commitment to implementing Value Based Purchasing incentives, one of which is to improve the quality of care with Medicare in hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs). CMS hopes to give hospitals an incentive to improve care by tying quality of [...]

CMS Announces Electronic Prescribing System

As the stereotype goes, physicians’ handwriting is notoriously illegible. Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new electronic prescribing system designed to eliminate medication errors caused by people misreading handwritten prescriptions. (Source) Kerry Weems, CMS acting administrator said “more than 1.5 million Americans are injured every year by drug errors. [...]

Information and Survey Letters: Impact of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, Etc.

The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) issued three information letters and three federal survey letters: Information Letters License Capacity in Adult Day Care (ADC) Day Activity and Health Services (DAHS) Facilities – DADS reminds providers that all licensed ADC facilities participating in the DAHS program must not exceed their licensed capacity. Download [...]

Provider and Information Letters: Two Surveys, Hurricane Ike, Etc.

The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) issued two provider and three information letters: Survey About Vehicles Used for Transportation of Individuals DADS requested that Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs) participate in a survey of providers regarding vehicles used to provide transportation of individuals enrolled in DADS programs. The deadline is October 1, 2008. [...]

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