The Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) is issuing this letter to clarify the correct method a Case Management Agency (CMA) must bill for a pre-enrollment assessment of an applicant seeking to enroll in the Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) program. For more info visit http://www.dads.state.tx.us/providers/communications/2014/letters/IL2014-64.pdf A partial assessment occurs when the CMA completes Form 3657, Pre-Enrollment Assessment, as part of … [Read more...] about Clarification of Billing Process for Pre-Enrollment Assessment Activities

Changes to Form 3071, Form 3074, and coinciding instructions are (for more info go to http://www.dads.state.tx.us/providers/communications/2014/letters/IL2014-50.pdf): • Form 3071, the SETTING (box 5) currently reads “ICF/ID-RC. This has changed to ICF/IID denoting Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with an Intellectual Disability • The individual or responsible party is required to sign Form 3071 when ELECTION is the form Type and when the individual or responsible party chooses to … [Read more...] about Changes in Procedures for Completing Form 3071, Individual Election/Cancellation/Update and Form 3074, Physician Certification of Terminal Illnessancellation/Update and Form 3074, Physician Certification of Terminal Illness

Direction to Financial Management Services Agencies (FMSAs) on updating Consumer Directed Services (CDS) employers’ budgets to include the new payment rate, effective September 1, 2014, for Medically Dependent Children Program (MDCP). The approved Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) rates can be found at https://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/Rad/long-term-svcs/index.shtml. Service Authorization Changes The rate change for MDCP requires a service authorization change. By December 1, 2014, … [Read more...] about Consumer Directed Services Budget Rate Changes for Medically Dependent Children Program

The State Health Commissioner states that The Ebola virus doesn't live particularly long once outside the body and can be killed with standard hospital disinfectants. But it’s scary because we've seen the heartbreaking images from impoverished countries in West Africa overwhelmed by Ebola. We are right to be concerned about a disease taking a humanitarian toll on places that lack the resources to prevent its spread. Ebola is one of the many diseases that state and national public health … [Read more...] about Texas Health System Well Prepared to Deal with Ebola Threat

The purpose of this letter is to inform Medicaid Hospice providers, effective October 1, 2014, the use of nonspecific diagnosis ICD codes for “debility” and “adult failure to thrive” will no longer be acceptable as the principal diagnosis on Form 3071, Individual Election/Cancellation/Update, for Medicaid hospice certification. In the August 7, 2013 publication of the Federal Register, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule: Medicare Program; FY2014 … [Read more...] about Use of nonspecific International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes for “debility” and “adult failure to thrive” as principal diagnoses for Medicaid Hospice certification.

Improper Coding for MDS Item G0110 Could Cause Changes to RUG Values Nursing facility and skilled nursing facility providers must use the proper activities of daily living (ADL) coding when completing column 1 of item G0110 on the MDS 3.0 assessment. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) staff have announced that improper coding could cause changes to RUG values during Medicaid reviews. While neither federal nor state rules specifically … [Read more...] about DADS Provider Alert regarding coding of ADLs

The purpose of this information letter is to inform Texas Home Living (TxHmL) program providers and local authorities the two service categories for the TxHmL Program: the Community Living Service Category and the Technical and Professional Supports Service Category, were discontinued effective September 1, 2014. The TxHmL Program rules at Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Title 40, Chapter 9, Subchapter N, have been amended to reflect the deletion of all references to and requirements … [Read more...] about Discontinuation of Service Categories in the Texas Home Living Program

The APS Facility Handbook has been extensively revised with many new requirements for reporting alleged abuse. These revisions, published on October 1, can be reviewed by following this link. APS Facility Investigations Handbook Visit us at Garlo Ward, P.C.. … [Read more...] about October 1, 2014 Revisions to APS Facility Handbook

The purpose of this information letter is to inform Home and Community-based Services (HCS) and Texas Home Living (TxHmL) program providers of transportation requirements when an individual is involved in a Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) abuse, neglect, and exploitation (ANE) investigation. When an individual receiving services is involved in an ANE investigation of a service provider, DFPS may indicate a forensic interview of the individual be conducted by a … [Read more...] about Transportation Requirements for Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation Investigations

HHSC to Re-issue Data Project Procurement this Fall AUSTIN — The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) plans to re-issue a request for proposals (RFP) for a major data project this fall. The original procurement was canceled so the state could make revisions to help lower the costs for the project. "This is an important project to help improve the quality and efficiency of Medicaid services, and we're committed to getting it right," said Texas Health and Human Services … [Read more...] about HHSC to Re-issue Data Project Procurement this Fall