In a letter dated November 2, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) informed nursing facilities and community services providers that third-party billers are required to enter into a contract with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission before claims can be submitted to the Texas Medicaid HealthCare Partnership, effective June 30, 2007.
This is an effort to combat fraud. You may download the letter here.
DADS informed home and community support services agencies about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations for preventing and immunizing against influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia in a letter dated November 6. According to current guidelines, the CDC recommends that people at increased risk receive vaccinations every year. People 65 and older are part of this group.
For more information, you may download the here.
In a letter dated November 9, DADS alerted certain long term care providers about a final rule issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and published in the September 22, 2006, Federal Register (Vol. 71, No. 184, Page 55326), titled, “Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Fire Safety Requirements for Certain Health Care Facilities; Amendment.â€
The final rule adopts the substance of an amendment that allows “certain health care facilities to place alcohol-based hand rub dispensers in egress corridors under specified conditions,†and specific requirements. To find out more, download the letter here.