DADS released two information letters:
All NF Admins:
This letter replaces IL 11-37 and PL 11-08 issued on March 17, 2011. MDS 3.0, a revision of MDS 2.0, adds more substance to Section Q, the relocation/referral section. An excerpt from the four-page letter:
The “new Section Q” directly asks if an individual wants to relocate back to the community and if they want a referral to a third-party independent community organization (local contact agency) to provide them information and potential assistance in relocating from the NF. The NF is required to make the referral to the local contact agency (LCA) within 10 business days and to ensure that there is a follow-up response by the LCA within 14 calendar days.
TxHmL and MR authorities:
DADS is expanding the TxHmL program and authorizing the enrolling of about 2,000 people. DADS asks providers to respond to applicants’ request for information about the program to expedite the process. (Letter)
— DADS will hold a Culture Change Symposium on July 25, 2011, in Austin. For questions about the symposium, contact Carol.Haynes@dads.state.tx.us.
— DADS will hold Region 1 NF provider meetings on June 15, 2011, in Lubbock and Plainview. Please RSVP by May 31 here. Details:
Lubbock: 9-12 p.m. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. USDA Building-Main Conference Room 3810 4th Street* Please Note: The USDA building security protocol requires that attendees stop at the front desk to sign in and get a name badge before proceeding to the conference room.
Plainview: 1:30-4:30 p.m. Registration begins at 1 p.m. Wayland Baptist University 1900 W. 7th Street Van Howeling Education Complex-NE corner of W. 8th & Qunicy Basement Meeting Room (Please enter the building through the West entrance).
— DADS reminded all Region 4/5 ICF/MR facilities and state-supported living centers about a provider meeting on June 9, 2011, from 8 a.m. to noon, in Room 304 A/B of the HHSC Training Center located at 302 E. Rieck Road in Tyler. DADS will hold another meeting on June 23, 2011, from 9-1 p.m., in Room 103 of the HHSC/DADS office located at 1210 S. Chestnut St. in Lufkin. Providers may attend either meeting.
— CMS proposed two options for 2012 payment rates for Medicare skilled nursing facilities. See the news alert page for details about the options.
— Effectively immediately, DADS Community Services Contracts will discontinue enrolling providers in the following STAR+PLUS expansion counties: Region 5: Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Newton, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto, Tyler; Region 6: Austin, Chambers, Liberty, Matagorda, Walker, Wharton; Region 7: Fayette; Region 8: Bandera, Goliad, Karnes; and Region 11: Brooks, Kenedy, Live Oak. The types of service contracts include CBA/HCSS, CDS for CBA, and AL/RC for CBA. DADS asks providers to refer to this letter for more information.
For more information about each alert, see the main news alert page.