OIG will review the procedures implemented by participating States for long term care facilities or providers to conduct background checks on prospective employees and providers who would have direct access to patients and determine the costs of conducting background checks.  OIG will determine the outcomes of the States' programs and determine whether the programs led to any unintended consequences.  Section 6201 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires … [Read more...] about Program for national background checks for Long Term Care employees

    OIG will determine whether State survey agencies verified correction plans for deficiencies identified during nursing home recertification surveys.  A prior OIG review found that one State survey agency did not always verify that nursing homes corrected deficiencies identified during surveys in accordance with Federal requirements.  Federal regulations require nursing homes to submit correction plans to the State survey agency or CMS for deficiencies identified during surveys. … [Read more...] about State agency verification of deficiency corrections

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) Work Plan for Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 describes activities that the OIG plans to initiate or continue in FY 2015.   Medicare Part A billing by skilled nursing facilities OIG will describe changes in SNF billing practices from FYs 2011 to 2013.  Prior OIG work found that SNFs increasingly billed for the highest level of therapy even though beneficiary characteristics remained largely unchanged.  OIG also found that SNFs billed 25% of all 2009 claims in error; … [Read more...] about

https://www.garloward.com/2015/04/08/8838/

Medicaid Health Information Exchange Advisory Committee April 9, 2015 10 a.m. Meeting Site:Department of Aging and Disability ServicesWinters Building Public Hearing Room701 West 51st St.Austin, TX 78751 This meeting will be webcast, access the webcast. Welcome and Introductions. Committee Minutes. (vote required)* State and Federal Developments.* Statewide Health Information Exchange Activities.* Electronic Health Record Incentive Program and Meaningful Use.* Update on Health and … [Read more...] about Medicaid Health Information Exchange Advisory Committee Meeting

Medicaid Transformation Waiver - Rules and WorkgroupsExecutive Waiver Committee: This workgroup provides HHSC with feedback on the hospital finance component of the waiver. This feedback will help HHSC understand the potential impact of changes to hospital funding anticipated by the waiver and will help provide input on the feasibility of different implementation approaches for hospital funding under the waiver. HHSC also will seek broader public input as appropriate. Executive Waiver Committee … [Read more...] about Medicaid Transformation Waiver

Nominate an Outstanding Volunteer for a DADS Vision Award Do you know a volunteer or group of volunteers who help improve the dignity, wellness or choices of people who are older or who have disabilities? Then nominate them for a 2015 Vision Award. Nominations are accepted through 5 p.m. on May 1. Winners will be honored in a ceremony in Austin on Sept. 17. The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) Vision Awards recognize people and groups who give their time, talents and … [Read more...] about Nominate an Outstanding Volunteer for a DADS Vision Award

Medicaid Transformation Waiver HHSC has received federal approval of a waiver that allows the state to expand Medicaid managed care while preserving hospital funding, provides incentive payments for health care improvements and directs more funding to hospitals that serve large numbers of uninsured patients. Recent Updates: HHSC has released the Annual Report (PDF) for the Medicaid Transformation Waiver’s Demonstration Year Three. HHSC will be holding two webinars to assist with April … [Read more...] about Medicaid Transformation Waiver

AGENDA: Institute of Health Care Quality and Efficiency Full Board Meeting April 7, 2015 10 a.m. Meeting Site:The University of Texas at Austin Thompson Conference CenterRoom 3.1022405 Robert Dedman Dr.Austin, TX 78705 Welcome and Introductions. Staff Update.* (Vote May Be Taken) 84th Legislative Session Serious and Persistent Mental Illness Project Update Board Discussion Health Literacy.* (Vote May Be Taken) Review objectives and strategies Board … [Read more...] about Institute of Health Care Quality and Efficiency Full Board Meeting

The Licensed Vocational Nurse OnCall Pilot Program Ends September 1, 2015.  After September 1, 2015, only registered nurses (RNs) may provide On-Call telephone services to individuals receiving services in the Home and Community-based Services (HCS) or Texas Home Living (TxHmL) programs or in an Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with an Intellectual Disability or Related Conditions (ICF/IID) with a capacity of 13 or fewer beds. Background Senate Bill (S.B.) 1857 (82nd Texas Legislature, … [Read more...] about Licensed Vocational Nurse OnCall Pilot Program Ends September 1, 2015

STAR+PLUS Quality Council March 30, 20151 p.m. Meeting Site:Health and Human Services CommissionBrown-Heatly BuildingPublic Hearing Room 4900 North Lamar Blvd.Austin, TX 78751 This meeting will be webcast. Call to order. Roll call. Approval of the August 18, 2014 meeting minutes. Agency update. Long term services and supports quality measures Nursing facility quality measures Managed Care Organization Report Cards Community First Choice Nursing Facility Carve-in Duals … [Read more...] about Upcoming Event & WEBCAST: STAR+PLUS Quality Council