DADS released three information letters.
Adult Day Care:
DADS notified providers of new safety operations and emergency preparedness rules in TAC Title 40, Part 1, Chapter 98, effective August 1, 2011. You may view the rules in the Texas Register at here and here. (Letter)
NFs:
DADS notified providers of new safety operations and emergency preparedness rules TAC Title 40, Part 1, Chapter 19, August 1, 2011. You may view the rules in the Texas Register at here and here. (Letter)
ICF/MR:
DADS seeks to emphasize Federal Survey & Clarification Letter 11-15-ICF-MR (Clarification of Reporting Mistreatment, Neglect and Abuse and Injuries of Unknown Source at 42 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §483.420(d)(2)) issued on March 18, 2011. An excerpt:
Definition of “Injury of Unknown Source”
Prior to CMS’ clarification of the definition of injury of unknown source, all injuries of unknown source were required to be reported and investigated, no matter how minor.
CMS’ clarification of the definition of an injury of unknown source requires an injury to be reported as an “injury of unknown source” when:
1. the source of the injury was not witnessed by any person and the source of the injury could not be explained by the client; and
2. the injury raises suspicions of possible abuse or neglect because of the extent of the injury or the location of the injury (e.g., the injury is located in an area not generally vulnerable to trauma) or the number of injuries observed at one particular point in time or the incidence of injuries over time.
CMS recognizes that clients lead active lives, experiencing normal day-to-day bumps and minor abrasions. These minor occurrences that are not of serious consequence to the client and do not present as a suspicious or repetitive injury should be recorded by the ICF/MR’s staff (with follow-up as indicated) once they are aware of the occurrence. For injuries that do not rise to the level of reportable “injuries of unknown source,” the ICF/MR should follow its policies and procedures for incident recording, investigation and tracking.
