Medicare: Physicians, Home Health Cuts

Unless Congress decides otherwise by January 1, physicians will face a 27.4 percent cut in Medicare reimbursement fees. From the AP: No one expects lawmakers to allow the axe to fall, but 48 million beneficiaries and their doctors are looking on nervously. Temporary reprieves have created a recurring problem that gets harder and harder to [...]

DADS Alerts: Long Term Care Changes in Texas

Every week, DADS issues important news alerts for providers. Here are four of the nine alerts posted since September 2: DADS added a new section to its web site: Culture Change in Texas Long-term Care. The MDS Privacy Act Statement is available in Spanish in the MDS 3.0 RAI Manual. “Effective for dates of service [...]

TX Register Updates: Amended Notice, Abolished SKIP

The following was obtained from the August 26 issue of the Texas Register: Public Notice HHSC issued an amended public notice of intent to seek a waiver from CMS to expand the STAR+PLUS program. An excerpt: The waiver request, in its final form, is now available to the public, as described below. HHSC is publishing [...]

DADS News Alerts: Training Sessions, Manual Updates

Since our last update on DADS news alert, the agency has released many more. Beginning on page two, scroll down to see each alert, which includes links to survey web pages, then go forward to the first page for the most recent alerts. A sample of the latest updates: Providers still have time to submit [...]

ILs & News Alerts: CBA Changes, Ticket to Work Event

DADS released two information letters and several news alerts: CDSA for CBA: DADS has proposed to create two categories of personal assistance services in the CBA Program. The letter also outlines operational procedures for CDSAs. An excerpt: PAS Category I is proposed to include tasks delegated by a registered nurse (RN) to an unlicensed attendant, [...]

DADS News Alerts: HCSSA Meeting, Disaster Preparedness

Citizens and providers may turn in unused, unwanted, or expired prescription drugs at “Operation Got Drugs II,” to be held on Saturday, April 30, 2011, from 10-2 p.m. Follow this link to search for a list of collection sites. DADS intends to revise or create provider manuals for several programs, including Assisted Living, CBA, CLASS, [...]

Baby Boomers and Home Health Care Providers

As the generation born between 1946 and 1964 enters retirement and, in some cases, require long term care, the demand for long term care services will increase. Some retired beneficiaries will choose to receive care at home instead of in a nursing facility for independence, privacy, etc. As a result, job prospects for home health [...]

Texas Strives for Balance in Medicaid Cuts

Last month, Texas lawmakers released a proposed budget that would reduce Medicaid reimbursement rates by 10 percent. Rates are being reduced to the point that Texas have threatened to withdraw from the program altogether. The Dallas Morning News reports that budget writers are grappling with potential unintended consequences while figuring out which services to cut. [...]

Information and Provider Letters: HCS, TxHmL, CDSAs, Etc.

DADS released 12 information and provider letters: DBMD: HHSC approved new payment rates for Employment Assistance and Supported Employment in the DBMD waiver program effective, February 1, 2011: Employment Assistance $33.44; Supported Employment $33.44. (Letter) NF Administrators, Social Workers, and Rehabilitation Therapy staff: DADS clarified the provision of specialized services to Medicaid-eligible nursing facility residents [...]

News Alerts: HSC Billing Guidelines, EVV Pilot System

DADS has issued three news alerts so far this month. 1.  Last month, DADS announced to external stakeholders that the HCS Billing Guides would be opened for review and suggestion. Because of difficulty in accessing the document for revision, the Billing and Payment department has produced a Microsoft Word version of the current June 1, [...]

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