The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) issued a provider letter to Nursing Facilities and Hospitals Seeking Medicare Certification for a Skilled Nursing Care Unit to inform them about new policy documents issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding workload prioritization on initial certification surveys. Attached to the two-page letter is a two-page Q&A memo. Download the letter and attachment here for more information. CMS published … [Read more...] about Provider Letters: Workload Prioritization of Initial Certification Surveys, OASIS-B1
Texas Register Updates: ICF/MR and Board of Nursing Proposed Rules
Proposed Rules The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has proposed to amend §§352.1 - 352.9, concerning the quality assurance fee for the Intermediate Care Facilities Mental Retardation (ICF/MR) program. The amendments would establish the quality assurance fee for facilities in the ICF/MR program. See the relevant section of the November 2 Texas Register for more information. The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) has proposed to repeal §217.13 (Peer Assistance Programs), … [Read more...] about Texas Register Updates: ICF/MR and Board of Nursing Proposed Rules
Texas Register Updates: HHSC Advisory Committees, Reimbursement Rates, Etc.
Proposed Rules The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has proposed to repeal §351.3(a) - (j) of the Purpose, Task, and Duration of Advisory Committees section, and replace it with new §351.3(1) - (13), to provide required information about the current HHSC advisory committees. See this link for more information. HHSC also seeks to amend §355.7101, Cost Reporting for 24-Hour Residential Child Care Reimbursements, in its Reimbursement Rates Chapter, to clarify that … [Read more...] about Texas Register Updates: HHSC Advisory Committees, Reimbursement Rates, Etc.
Provider and Information Letters: New Payment Rates, Life Safety Code
The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) issued a letter to Community Based Alternatives and Assisted Living/Residential Care Providers to inform them about Personal Care 3 Reimbursement Rates. These rates became effective on September 1, 2007. For more details, download the letter here. DADS informed the Medically Dependent Children Program and Home and Community Support Service Agencies about increases in provider rates. New rates and billing codes can be accessed here … [Read more...] about Provider and Information Letters: New Payment Rates, Life Safety Code
Provider and Information Letters: Minimum Wage, Medicaid Reimbursement Rate Increases, Etc.
The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) notified Community Based Alternatives (CBA), Home and Community Support Services Agencies, CBA Assisted Living/Residential Care Providers, Consolidated Waiver Program Providers, Deaf-Blind with Multiple Disabilities Waiver Providers, Medically Dependent Children’s Program Providers, Primary Home Care Providers, and Day Activity and Health Services Providers that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission has raised the minimum … [Read more...] about Provider and Information Letters: Minimum Wage, Medicaid Reimbursement Rate Increases, Etc.
Texas Register Updates: Obsolete Rule Deletions, Public Meeting Notices
The Board of Nurse Examiners has proposed amendments to delete obsolete portions of rules pertaining to Practice and Procedure. The proposed amendments were reviewed by the Board's Eligibility and Disciplinary Task Force on July 13, 2007, and the Board and task force recommended approval. For more information, see the relevant section of the August 17 Texas Register. The Board also proposed a new rule pertaining to Licensure, Peer Assistance and Practice. Read more about this proposed new … [Read more...] about Texas Register Updates: Obsolete Rule Deletions, Public Meeting Notices
Board of Nurse Examiners Updates
The Texas Board of Nurse Examiners has proposed to amend §211.6 and §211.7 of the 22 Texas Administrative Code to implement §301.1595 of the Texas Occupations Code, as applicable to the committees' make-up. From the Texas Register: Section 211.6 was amended in March 2007 to comply with the Sunset Advisory Committee staff's recommendations which were subsequently incorporated into House Bill 2426 (HB 2426). Subsection (f)(4) is recommended to incorporate consistency in the rule by … [Read more...] about Board of Nurse Examiners Updates
DOL Announces Grants for Long Term Care Industry
The Department of Labor (DOL) announced that it will spend more than $43 million dealing with shortages in the health care industry, including long term care. (Source) On several occasions, I’ve blogged about the shortage of nurses and geriatric physicians. As baby boomers retire and age, many will need long term care, which will put pressure on an industry already faced with worker shortages. Ironically, baby boomer retirement is linked to shortages among long term caregivers. DOL and … [Read more...] about DOL Announces Grants for Long Term Care Industry
More Texas Register Updates: Board of Nurse Examiners
The Board of Nurse Examiners has adopted amendments regarding Vocational and Profession Nursing Education. The amendments incorporate guidelines for faculty waivers into the nursing education rules, eliminating the need to issue waivers. For more information, see the relevant section in the January 5 Texas Register. … [Read more...] about More Texas Register Updates: Board of Nurse Examiners
More News About Nursing Shortage
The nursing shortage is so critical that someone graduating with only a two-year nursing degree has his/her choice of nursing jobs at relatively high salaries. The average starting salary for RNs is $56,000. The New York Daily News featured a story on the nursing job market and cited statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the American Nurses Association. The average nurse is 50 years old, and nursing schools have had to turn away students because there weren’t enough faculty to … [Read more...] about More News About Nursing Shortage