In a recent case, Riley v. Texas State Bd. Of Examiners of Prof. Counselors, No. 03-09-0058-CV (Tex. App. – Austin May 14, 2010), an individual failed to timely file her professional counselor license renewal. She subsequently sued the Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors for failing to send her the required notice under Tex. Occ. Code Sec. 503.353 that her license was about to expire. However, the court found that the Board’s failure to send the notice does not affect the renewal … [Read more...] about Don’t Forget to Renew Your License
IRS Releases Draft Form Regarding Small Business Health Care Tax Credit
On September 7, 2010, the Internal Revenue Service released a draft version of the Form 8941 that both small businesses and tax-exempt organizations will use to calculate the small business health care tax credit during the 2011 tax season. Tax-exempt organizations generally do not file income tax returns, but can use the Form 8941 to claim the credit. The credit is designed to encourage small employers (with 10 or less full-time employees) to offer health insurance coverage or maintain the … [Read more...] about IRS Releases Draft Form Regarding Small Business Health Care Tax Credit
Health Care Reform: Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement
Title IV, Subtitle B, of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, entitled Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement, contains several provisions affecting nursing homes. The legislation requires nursing homes to disclose their owners, managers, and the organizational structure to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”), the HHS Inspector General, the state in which the nursing home is located, and in certain cases, the state long-term care ombudsman. The HHS … [Read more...] about Health Care Reform: Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement
Information Letter and Alerts: MDCP, NF Computer-Based Training
DADS release on information letter and news alerts: MDCP: DADS informed these providers that during the development of the Individual Plan of Care, the service initiation date will be negotiated before the provider receives a service authorization form as indicated in 40 TAC, Chapter 50, §51.217(b). An excerpt: When the initial service initiation date has been agreed upon by all required parties, the case manager will send the provider the appropriate service authorization form, either … [Read more...] about Information Letter and Alerts: MDCP, NF Computer-Based Training
Texas Register Updates: STAR+PLUS Expansion Forums, Medical Board Updates
The following information was obtained from the September 10 issue of the Texas Register: Public Hearings and Notice The Medicaid Managed Care Stakeholder Forum of the Expansion of STAR+PLUS (Dallas Service Area) will be held on September 21, 2010, from 2-5 p.m., at the Texas Health Resources Corporate Office, Executive Conference Hall, 7th Floor, 612 E. Lamar Blvd., Arlington, TX 76011. The Medicaid Managed Care Stakeholder Forum of the Expansion of STAR+PLUS (Tarrant Service Area) … [Read more...] about Texas Register Updates: STAR+PLUS Expansion Forums, Medical Board Updates
Information Letters and Alerts: STAR+PLUS Meetings, Webinars
DADS release an information letter and several news alerts: ICFs/MR, SSLCs, and MRAs: DADS alerted these providers to a policy change. They now may refer an individual with a competitive employment goal to the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services for employment services. If he applies, the ICF/MR provider or MRA should follow the coordination processes outlined in IL 08-26. If not, then the ICF/MR provider or MRA should proceed with assisting the individual to pursue and … [Read more...] about Information Letters and Alerts: STAR+PLUS Meetings, Webinars
Texas Register Updates: Reimbursement Rates, Rewritten Rules, Etc.
The following was obtained from the September 3 issue of the Texas Register: Public Hearing and Notices HHSC intends to submit amendments to the Texas State Plan for Medical Assistance, under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, which would modify the reimbursement methodologies in the Texas Medicaid State Plan as a result of Medicaid fee changes for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies, Family Planning Providers, and Physicians and Certain Other … [Read more...] about Texas Register Updates: Reimbursement Rates, Rewritten Rules, Etc.
Provider and Information Letters: ICF/MR, HCSSA, NFs, Assisted Living
DADS released seven new provider letters and one information letter. DADS informed the following providers that in addition to an initial Nurse Aide Registry and the Employee Misconduct Registry search, they must search both registries every year for unlicensed employees and volunteers whose duties include face-to-face contact with clients, effective September 1, and document and keep a record of the searches: Adult Day Care Assisted Living … [Read more...] about Provider and Information Letters: ICF/MR, HCSSA, NFs, Assisted Living
NPR’s Primary Care Physician Series
Last week, we pointed you to the first part of NPR's article series on primary care physicians in the post Solo Primary Care Physicians. NPR has published the second and third articles: Future Of Primary Care? Some Say 'Medical Home' Midlevel Providers Fill Primary Care Doctors' Shoes … [Read more...] about NPR’s Primary Care Physician Series
Texas Register: Boarding Home Facilities, ICFs/MR, HSSCAs, Etc.
The following information was obtained from the August 27 issue of the Texas Register: Public Notices HHSC withdrew its intent to submit Amendment 944, Transmittal Number TX 10-051, to the Texas State Plan for Medical Assistance, which would have proposed to cover certain pharmacy supplies as part of the home health benefit provided by a licensed pharmacy provider. HHSC intends to submit amendments to the Texas State Plan for Medical Assistance, which would require HHSC to rebase acute … [Read more...] about Texas Register: Boarding Home Facilities, ICFs/MR, HSSCAs, Etc.
