The proposed rule was issued pursuant to an Executive Order signed on January 31, 2025, "Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation." The Order states: "The Administration’s policy to significantly reduce the private expenditures required to comply with Federal regulations to secure America’s economic prosperity and national security and the highest possible quality of life for each citizen. " You can find the Proposed changes by clicking here. Also, The Skilled Nursing Facility … [Read more...] about CMS Issues Proposed Rule for Skilled Nursing Prospective Payment System Update
New HIPAA Security Rules Effective March 7, 2025
Be aware that the date for compliance is coming up fast. Overview of the New Rules Enhanced Encryption Standards To ensure the highest level of data protection, the new HIPAA rules mandate the use of advanced encryption methods for both data at rest and data in transit. This includes: Encryption of all electronic protected health information (ePHI) using AES-256 or a higher standard. Mandatory encryption of emails containing ePHI. Encryption of ePHI stored on portable devices such … [Read more...] about New HIPAA Security Rules Effective March 7, 2025
Texas HHSC and the New Emergenty Communication Tool–AlertMedia
Texas HHSC has posted a provider letter alerting long-term care providers of their responsibility to sign up and how to use it. You can find the letter here. … [Read more...] about Texas HHSC and the New Emergenty Communication Tool–AlertMedia
Employment Readiness Provider Letter
HHSC has sent out a Provider Letter regarding the new employment readiness service for HCS, TxHmL, DBMD, and FMSA. You can read it here. … [Read more...] about Employment Readiness Provider Letter
Medical Judgment
When I go to the doctor, I want it to be one capable of independent judgment, not a robot of the government and its favored stakeholders. Hurray for AAPS! "The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons Educational Foundation (“AAPS”) filed on Monday an expansion to its federal lawsuit against the Biden Administration and board-certifying organizations that threatened to, and sometimes have, revoked board certifications of physicians based on their outspokenness on matters of … [Read more...] about Medical Judgment
Important Message from HHSC for Texas Long Term Care Providers
Uncle Sam Morphs into Big Brother
"The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (“AAPS”) served a lawsuit on Oct 11, seeking to block the upcoming requirement that tens of millions Americans provide their personal information to federal agencies beginning Jan 1, 2025. The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) imposes this new reporting requirement on more than 30 million entities such as small businesses, sports clubs, civic groups, and political organizations.. The CTA comprised only 21 pages, camouflaged among … [Read more...] about Uncle Sam Morphs into Big Brother
How will the Loper Case Figure into this?
" A Texas doctor on Monday sued the Biden administration in an effort to block a new rule aimed at strengthening privacy protections for women seeking abortions and for patients who receive gender transition treatments. Carmen Purl, a family physician in Dumas, Texas, said in her lawsuit, opens new tab in Amarillo, Texas, federal court that the rule exceeds the government's legal authority and could prevent her from reporting possible abuse. " Stay tuned..... … [Read more...] about How will the Loper Case Figure into this?
Hah! Try being a Nursing Home Who Does Something Like This.
"At Our Lady of the Lake, which did not provide comment for this article, inspectors determined the emergency room’s staff members violated the federal mandate seven times since 2017, when they refused a needed surgery to a Medicaid patient with a broken spine, left a suicidal teenager unattended in the lobby and failed to examine another pregnant woman before sending her to another hospital, federal records show. Other emergency rooms denied care to pregnant women, sometimes leaving them to … [Read more...] about Hah! Try being a Nursing Home Who Does Something Like This.
Texas HHSC LTCR MDS Webinars
Doing the MDS incorrectly can lead to bad resident outcomes and deficiency citations. HHSC now has recorded MDS webinar trainings available that you can listen to at your leisure. Here are the links, along with the PowerPoint slides: September 12 recording September 12 PowerPoint slides August 27 recording August 27 PowerPoint slides … [Read more...] about Texas HHSC LTCR MDS Webinars
