HHS has published Provider Letter PL2020-29 regarding the new Texas Administrative Code Rules and amendments governing Administrative Penalties, informal dispute resolution and amelioration for the above providers. The rules took effect April 28, 202, however the administrative penalty portion will not impact violations identified prior to September 1, 2020. Stay tuned to this blog for further details. … [Read more...] about Home and Community-based Services and Texas Home Living Provider Letter
Grand Rounds Legal: What Health Providers Should Know about Medical Cannabis and CBD Oil with Lisa Mahfouz Morris of Lakeway Botanicals
Since the legalization of CBD oil a little less than a year ago, the already massive interest in using it has greatly increased in Texas. People with conditions that reputedly can benefit want to try it. Some of those people might be residents in your nursing home, assisted living center, group home or home health program. This episode will discuss things you need to know about CBD oil and medical cannabis. With me to discuss this is Lisa Mahfouz Morris of Lakeway Botanicals. … [Read more...] about Grand Rounds Legal: What Health Providers Should Know about Medical Cannabis and CBD Oil with Lisa Mahfouz Morris of Lakeway Botanicals
Grand Rounds Legal:
Welcome back to Grand Rounds Legal. This episode of Grand Rounds Legal will feature Todd McCann, the Executive Director of Rhythm for You, a not-for-profit that is bring a new and fun activity to residents of nursing homes and others. … [Read more...] about Grand Rounds Legal:
Private Providers, Dual Diagnosis and the Justice System
In the past I have given presentations about providers and those they care for and interactions with police. Here is a very disturbing podcast about wrongful convictions and those with mental health problems. These kinds of things can and have happened with the intellectually disabled who have problems such as autism and other mental health conditions. … [Read more...] about Private Providers, Dual Diagnosis and the Justice System
Advanced Concepts in Risk Management: Advance Directives – What Providers Need to Know
This is a training I did in November for the Texas Association for Home Care & Hospice. The Association has posted it, giving 1.75 hours of credit. … [Read more...] about Advanced Concepts in Risk Management: Advance Directives – What Providers Need to Know
Marijuana Legalization Bill Approved By Congressional Committee
This should ease the way for advances in medical marijuana. … [Read more...] about Marijuana Legalization Bill Approved By Congressional Committee
Provider Letter 19-23: What ALF Providers Must Report
On October 24, 2019 HHSC issued PL 19-23 replacing 14-22 to remind assisted living facility providers of their duty to report abuse, neglect, exploitation and "certain other incidents." You can read the letter with its attachments here. … [Read more...] about Provider Letter 19-23: What ALF Providers Must Report
GAO Gives Troubling Report Regarding Lack of End-of-Life Visits by Hospice
CMS arranged and paid for an investigation by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to look at quality measures pertaining to Hospice which found troubling results. Previously, the OIG had identified "that 18 percent of all hospices in a nationwide survey had serious deficiencies, like failing to vet staff." The GAO report concluded that ..."eighty for-profits failed to send registered nurses, physicians or nurse practitioners to visit discharged patients even … [Read more...] about GAO Gives Troubling Report Regarding Lack of End-of-Life Visits by Hospice
Google Takes over Fitbit
I love my Fitbit. I has helped me become very disciplined. Google is taking over the company and privacy activists are concerned. What do you think? "Over the past three years, Google's experiments in using artificial intelligence and medical data have resulted in government complaints and lawsuits because critics say patient privacy wasn't protected. In one case, Google was provided with identifiable patient information that included doctors' notes and date stamps." … [Read more...] about Google Takes over Fitbit
Monitoring Home Health & Hospice Employees
I have had clients call me upset that documentation from employees reflected visits to patients that patients or their families say never happened. Technology continues to assist owners of these businesses to monitor and confirm visits and care. "As a real-time, GPS-enabled care management delivery solution, Visit Path verifies where and when a hospice or home health field nurse is on duty, begins service for a client, when they complete service and when they are off duty. This verification of … [Read more...] about Monitoring Home Health & Hospice Employees