Medicare will no longer pay for "treating preventable errors, injuries and infections that occur in hospitals," according to the New York Times. Such preventable errors include leaving a sponge or other object inside a patient during surgery and giving a patient the wrong blood. Such a policy obviously will put pressure on hospitals to get it right the first time (which they should be doing anyway), or they won’t get paid. An excerpt: Hospital executives worry that they will have to … [Read more...] about Medicare Won’t Cover Preventable Errors
Information and Provider Letters: Per Diem Rates, Hurricane Preparedness, Etc.
On August 15, the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) issued an information letter to Nursing Facility Administrators and Hospice Directors about the approval of new per diem payment rates for the Nursing Facility Program (NF), the Hospice Program in NFs, and the Swing Bed Program, effective September 1, 2007 through August 31, 2008. Download the letter here for more information. In an August 16 letter, DADS informed Title XIX and Title XX Home Delivered Meals (HDM) Providers … [Read more...] about Information and Provider Letters: Per Diem Rates, Hurricane Preparedness, Etc.
But Can He Take Vital Signs?
Patches the horse: … [Read more...] about But Can He Take Vital Signs?
Information Letters: Revised Notices for Fiscal Year 2007 Cutoff Dates
Last week, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services issued several information letters regarding revised notices for fiscal year 2007 cutoff dates. Please click on the links below to download the letters: Community Services Providers, Nursing Facility Providers, Therapy Providers Home and Community-Based Service and Texas Home Living Waiver Providers Intermediate Care Facilities for Persons with Mental Retardation or Related Conditions (ICF/MR) Providers - Service Group … [Read more...] about Information Letters: Revised Notices for Fiscal Year 2007 Cutoff Dates
Think Tank Strives to Reduce Medication Errors
Another Washington-based think tank has cropped up. According to the Kaiser Network, a group of doctors, pharmacies, health insurers and others have formed an organization to help reduce medication errors. The new organization will dedicate itself to promoting "best practices for the use of electronic prescribing technology that links physicians, pharmacists and patients.†"Because medication nonadherence is estimated to account for between 10% to 20% of hospital admissions and adds up … [Read more...] about Think Tank Strives to Reduce Medication Errors
Tropical Storms and Texas
There are two tropical storms presently aimed at the Texas Coast. Here is the latest on Tropical Storm Erin: Here is its projected path: In the Gulf of Mexico, Tropical depression Five took shape last night, and has been upgraded to Tropical Storm Erin at 10 am CT moving northwest toward the southeastern Texas Coast. Conditions appear favorable for Tropical Storm Erin to be a flooding rain threat into Friday night. The current forecast track brings this system into the … [Read more...] about Tropical Storms and Texas
Texas Register Updates: Reimbursement Rates, Special Nutrition Program
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has proposed to amend §355.102, concerning General Principles of Allowable and Unallowable Costs, in its Reimbursement Rates Chapter. The amendment would implement phase two (online training) of cost report training. For more information on submitting public comments, see the relevant section of the August 10 Texas Register. HHSC also proposes to amend two rules to the Reimbursement Rates Chapter relating to care for the aged and … [Read more...] about Texas Register Updates: Reimbursement Rates, Special Nutrition Program
Footage of Physical Abuse in a Nursing Facility
ABC News has released footage of a health care worker beating a resident whom, it appears, was not cooperating with attempts to care for him. The beating appears quite vicious. The family had, unknown to facility staff, installed a hidden camera in the room of the resident, who resides in a Baltimore, Maryland nursing home. As you know, here in Texas, the law addresses covert monitoring--but lays out no real and affirmative sanctions against residents and family members who do it. So, … [Read more...] about Footage of Physical Abuse in a Nursing Facility
Texas Register Updates: Amendment Transmittal Notices
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will submit an amendment that eliminates the 2.5 percent Medicaid payment reduction for Medicaid services delivered by Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Professional Counselors, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, which was effective on September 1, 2003. HHSC is eliminating the reduction because of increased appropriations under the 2008-09 General Appropriations Act. For information on how to submit comments, see the … [Read more...] about Texas Register Updates: Amendment Transmittal Notices
Board of Nurse Examiners Updates
The Texas Board of Nurse Examiners has proposed to amend §211.6 and §211.7 of the 22 Texas Administrative Code to implement §301.1595 of the Texas Occupations Code, as applicable to the committees' make-up. From the Texas Register: Section 211.6 was amended in March 2007 to comply with the Sunset Advisory Committee staff's recommendations which were subsequently incorporated into House Bill 2426 (HB 2426). Subsection (f)(4) is recommended to incorporate consistency in the rule by … [Read more...] about Board of Nurse Examiners Updates
