The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) issued a letter to Nursing Facilities, Intermediate Care Facilities for Persons with Mental Retardation or Related Conditions, Assisted Living Facilities, and Adult Day Care Facilities, about incomplete licensure applications. Specifically, DADS reminded these providers that a letter of explanation must accompany incomplete license applications, effective October 11. DADS will return incomplete applications that don’t include a … [Read more...] about Provider Letter: Incomplete Licensure Applications
Texas Register Updates: HHSC Advisory Committees, Reimbursement Rates, Etc.
Proposed Rules The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has proposed to repeal §351.3(a) - (j) of the Purpose, Task, and Duration of Advisory Committees section, and replace it with new §351.3(1) - (13), to provide required information about the current HHSC advisory committees. See this link for more information. HHSC also seeks to amend §355.7101, Cost Reporting for 24-Hour Residential Child Care Reimbursements, in its Reimbursement Rates Chapter, to clarify that … [Read more...] about Texas Register Updates: HHSC Advisory Committees, Reimbursement Rates, Etc.
Michigan Ends Home Exemption for Nursing Home Patients
Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm is set to sign a bill that will require the state to recoup the cost of Medicaid services from the estates of deceased recipients who lived in nursing homes or received in-home care, as required by federal law. (Source) Under the old law, the estates of such recipients were exempt from recoupment. Lawmakers threatened to cut off funding if the state didn’t comply with the law. According to The Detroit News, Community Health Department Director Janet … [Read more...] about Michigan Ends Home Exemption for Nursing Home Patients
Information Letter: Contractor Compliance
The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) informed all Home and Community-based Services (HSC) and Texas Home Living Program (TxHmL) Contractors about a new policy that seeks to ensure these contractors comply with Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (Section 6032) requirements to educate employees, contractors, and agents about federal and state fraud and false claims laws, and whistleblower protections laws, effective January 1, 2007. The policy applies to HSC and TxHmL … [Read more...] about Information Letter: Contractor Compliance
Information Letter: PACE Promotional Materials
The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) issued a letter to Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) Providers to remind them about procedures for marketing materials and sentinel events. DADS is required to approve all promotional, marketing, enrollment, and disenrollment materials before publication and distribution. For more information, download the letter here. … [Read more...] about Information Letter: PACE Promotional Materials
Texas Register Updates: Proposed Rules and Public Notices
Proposed Rules The Texas Department of Health and Human Services (HHSC) proposed a new rule that would amend the Coordinated Planning And Delivery Of Health And Human Services section of the code to define regional and local health programs and provide for the competitive award of grants to support the initial establishment and operation of regional or local health care programs. See the relevant section of the September 21 issue of the Texas Register. HHSC also proposes to amend the … [Read more...] about Texas Register Updates: Proposed Rules and Public Notices
New Law Revises Medicare ‘Behavioral Offset’ Provision
President George W. Bush signed into law a measure that prevents the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) from implementing a behavioral offset provision that would have reduced Medicare inpatient hospital reimbursements by $20.3 billion over five years. (Kaiser Network) When the House of Representatives passed the measure in July, Congressman Jerry Weller said CMS sought to preemptively punish hospitals "before they’ve done anything wrong." CMS attempted to reduce … [Read more...] about New Law Revises Medicare ‘Behavioral Offset’ Provision
Information and Provider Letters: Medicaid Emergency Dental Services and Provider Conference
The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) issued an information letter to nursing facilities to clarify Medicaid-certified nursing facility emergency dental services. According to DADS, the current rule applies when an emergency dental procedure, which does not require prior authorization, is required. For more information, download the letter here. DADS issued a provider letter to Intermediate Care Facilities for Persons with Mental Retardation or a Related Condition and … [Read more...] about Information and Provider Letters: Medicaid Emergency Dental Services and Provider Conference
Information Letters: Rate Change and Cost Ceiling Adjustments
The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) informed Medically Dependent Children Program Camp Providers that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has developed a camp provider rate change. The new payment ceiling rate, effective June 1, 2007, is $9.68/hour. Contact Lori Roberts at (512) 438-5391 or lori.roberts@dads.state.tx.us if you have questions. You may download the letter here. HHSC has adopted new rates for Home and Community-Based Services Program … [Read more...] about Information Letters: Rate Change and Cost Ceiling Adjustments
No Chemo Medicaid Coverage for Illegal Aliens
In what's sure to be a hotly debated decision, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) informed the New York Medicaid Program last month that it can't cover chemotherapy treatment for illegal aliens. (Kaiser Network) CMS allows Medicaid coverage for illegal aliens for emergency services, but chemotherapy is not considered an emergency procedure. Richard Daines, New York Health Commissioner, told the New York Times, "There are clearly situations that we consider emergencies … [Read more...] about No Chemo Medicaid Coverage for Illegal Aliens
