http://youtu.be/KLjgBLwH3Wc One interesting video deserves another. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emd_wKeQjxI … [Read more...] about Would Green Smoothies be better than Ensure for Nursing Home Residents?
TX Register Updates: Managed Medicaid Care Expansion
The following information was obtained from the December 23 issue of the Texas Register. Proposed Rules HHSC proposed rules for several sections of the code: Medicaid Managed Care – HHSC proposed to amend, repeal, and add new rules to several subsections to Chapter 353, Medicaid Managed Care. An excerpt: The amendments and repeals are also proposed to delete references to the Integrated Care Management (ICM) program. ICM was a Texas Medicaid managed care program designed to address the … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: Managed Medicaid Care Expansion
Medicare/Medicaid News
Medicaid cut challenges will get a hearing in Arizona. "Three public-interest law groups challenged an enrollment freeze for childless adults in the state's Medicaid program, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. A lower-court judge and an Arizona appeals-court panel upheld the cuts and state lawmakers enacted the freeze as part of $500 million in AHCCCS reductions to help balance the current-year budget." - AZ Central States test health care reform flexibility. Essential benefits, … [Read more...] about Medicare/Medicaid News
IL/News Alerts: Waiver Form Revisions, January 3 Meeting
CLASS, CMA, and DSA DADS will review all forms used across DADS waiver programs, including CLASS forms used by CMAs and DSAs, which will be reviewed and revised in phases. Stakeholders will have a chance to review revisions before forms are updated. (Letter) -- CMS has posted the "November 3, 2011 National Provider Call Follow-Up and Clarifications" on its website at this link. DADS urges providers to read the document to help complete the assessments correctly. -- DADS has posted a … [Read more...] about IL/News Alerts: Waiver Form Revisions, January 3 Meeting
TX Register: Medical Board Updates
The following information was obtained from the December 16 issue of the Texas Register. Public Notice HHSC intends to submit an amendment to the Texas State Plan for Medical Assistance to update the current plan with recent fee schedule updates, including fees for new services and modified fees for existing services. See the Texas Register for more information. Withdrawn Rules The Texas Medical Board has withdraw the proposed amendment to §177.5, which appeared in the September 30, … [Read more...] about TX Register: Medical Board Updates
Three Felonies A Day Redux
Some time ago, I wrote about Harvey Silverglate's book Three Felonies A Day: How the Feds Target the Innocent. The book's premise is that there is virtually no adult in this country who has not violated a federal criminal law because of the incredible number of laws and the vagueness and breadth of them. Moreover, almost every Federal regulation carries criminal consequences either directly or through piggy-backing with a statute.This should be of particular concern to health providers … [Read more...] about Three Felonies A Day Redux
IL/News Alerts: DBMD Provider Requirements
DADS released an information letter and several news alerts. CMPAS: As a follow-up to IL 11-119 from October 21, DADS includes additional information specific to CMPAS providers. An excerpt: Individuals eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or SSI-related Medicaid and receiving CMPAS will be enrolled in the STAR+PLUS program effective March 1, 2012. However, individuals receiving CMPAS at the time of the expansion whose spouses are their paid attendants may choose to remain in … [Read more...] about IL/News Alerts: DBMD Provider Requirements
TX Register Updates: Texas Medical Board Changes
The following information was obtained from the December 9 issue of the Texas Register. Public Notice HHSC announced the renewal of a contract with Software Contract Solutions, Inc. to provide a resource for investigating all facets of information technology software issues that impact price, cost savings measures, risk exposure, and overall total cost of ownership. The renewal's value will not exceed $950,000. See the Texas Register for more information. Adopted Rules The Texas … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: Texas Medical Board Changes
IL/News Alerts: Electronic Submission, December Webinars
AFC, AL/RC, CAS, CBA, CDS, DAHS, ERS, FC, HDM, MDCP, and PHC: DADS will participate in the Electronic Document Submission Pilot, which entails transmitting documents between DADS case manages and providers/CDSAs. The program begins on December 19, 2011 and will continue for six months. (Letter) -- DADS will implement a new service code in the CLASS program for DSA full and partial pre-enrollment assessment activities and eliminate service code 40A for DSA billing of partial pre-enrollment … [Read more...] about IL/News Alerts: Electronic Submission, December Webinars
Medicare/Medicaid News
CMS expands competitive bidding in Medicare. "The first phase of the program was successfully implemented for nine product categories in nine areas of the country on Jan. 1, 2011. To date, CMS monitoring data have shown a successful implementation with no changes in beneficiary health status. Today, CMS released the detailed schedule for Round 2 bidding. Registration will begin on December 5, and the 60-day supplier bidding period will begin in late January of 2012. " - CMS Medicare to … [Read more...] about Medicare/Medicaid News
