Information Letter No. 17-24 DADS has published its latest information letter directed to Deaf Blind with Multiple Disabilities (DBMD) Program Providers. The letter outlines the Texas Health and Human Services Commission requirements for the DBMD program providers to perform certain activities related to participant surveys in the DBMD Program and to complete a provider survey. HHSC will schedule face-to-face visits with these people to survey them about the services they receive and their … [Read more...] about Participant Surveys in the DBMD Program Receiving Licensed Assisted Living
Changes to HCS Handbook Regarding Results of Residential Visit
Information Letter No. 17-23 – The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is making changes to the HCS Handbook, Section 14411. The handbook revisions pertain to results from a residential visit described in rule at Title 40, Texas Administrative Code, §9.171(j).The changes will explain how a score from a residential visit is calculated• Clarify when evidence of correction is required after a residential visit• Clarify when HHSC takes follow-up action after a residential visit• … [Read more...] about Changes to HCS Handbook Regarding Results of Residential Visit
Texans to face new obstacles as Obamacare open enrollment nears with government cuts
On November 1st, the open enrollment period for the Affordable Healthcare Act (ACA) begins. The 2018 open enrollment runs from November 1st to December 15th and is a crucial time to reach a critical number of under and uninsured individuals in order to get them covered. With enrollment during that period coverage would start on January 1, 2018. This years period is shorter than the 3-month period last year and has been reduced to 6 weeks. According to reports, government cutbacks in the form of … [Read more...] about Texans to face new obstacles as Obamacare open enrollment nears with government cuts
Early Voting in Nursing Facilities and Assisted Living Facilities
Provider Letter 17-31 - The Early voting process that went into effect on September 1 for nursing facilities (NF's) and Assisted Living Facilities (ALF's) The new temporary law at Texas Elections Code §107.006, requires NFs and ALFs to set aside common space for the election officials to set up as a voting area. The space must be accessible and allow residents to cast a secret ballot. Texas Health and Safety Code §§242.0181 and 247.008 require NFs and ALFs to comply with Chapter 107 for the … [Read more...] about Early Voting in Nursing Facilities and Assisted Living Facilities
Health Care Providers See Millennials as Key to Nursing Shortage
Shortage of Nurses and nursing providers have increased as more of the population retires. Millennials, who fall between the birth years of 1982 to 2000 are the top age group that is becoming the largest group in the in-home care workforce. According to a new study published in the October edition of Health Affairs an average millennial is now 186% more likely to become a registered nurse (RN) compared to baby boomers who's generation are the ones most typically in the highest leadership … [Read more...] about Health Care Providers See Millennials as Key to Nursing Shortage
Nursing Home Disaster Preparation Under Scrutiny, Evaluated by Senators
The Hurricane Ima weather disaster claimed the lives of nine nursing home residents in Florida who died as a result of lack of A/C due to power outages and non-working backup generators. In Texas, Hurricane Harvey brought attention to the fact that an El Paso, Texas, nursing home had no plan for how to bring wheelchair-dependent people down flights of stairs, while many others had to wade through waist-deep floodwaters to exit the facilities. As a result of these disturbing occurrences, … [Read more...] about Nursing Home Disaster Preparation Under Scrutiny, Evaluated by Senators
Telemedicine Rules Released To Affect 28 million patients in Texas
Healthcare providers in the State of Texas will have to review the new Telemedicine Rules released this month by the Texas Medical Board. The new rules are reported to eliminate a few obstacles doctors faced in utilizing telemedicine to treat patients and mark the final barriers in a years-long battle to loosen restrictive telehealth rules in the Texas. According to reports, the proposed rules eliminate the provisions that a "patient site telepresenter" must be available for patients being … [Read more...] about Telemedicine Rules Released To Affect 28 million patients in Texas
CMS Launches New Hospice Care Website for Families, Physicians and their Patients.
In a new press release, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) officially announced the opening of their Hospice Compare website. The website which focuses on palliative and end of life care was designed to improve transparency, the consumer experience and empower patients. giving families, patients and the physicians who care for them a reliable resource and "snapshot" of the quality of care a hospice facility provides, as well as information related to health care decisions. The … [Read more...] about CMS Launches New Hospice Care Website for Families, Physicians and their Patients.
Alert: All Providers Are Required To Redo Employee Misconduct Registry (EMR) Searches
Provider Letter No. 17-23 - DADS is directing providers to immediately redo all EMR searches conducted during this two-month period ( From June 9, 2017, through July 27, 2017) to verify the employability of any individuals they have hired. If a search result now shows that an individual is listed in the EMR, then the individual is not eligible to continue employment in a DADS-regulated facility or agency or any facility or agency governed by Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 253. Every … [Read more...] about Alert: All Providers Are Required To Redo Employee Misconduct Registry (EMR) Searches
Fiscal Year 2017 Cutoff Dates for Fee-for-Service Year-end Closeout Processing
Information Letter No. 17-17This is a reminder that, with the fiscal year change, any claims for services performed in fiscal year 2015 (September 1, 2014 to August 31, 2015) that TMHP receives after Noon, Tuesday, August 8, 2017, will become miscellaneous claims and cannot be paid through the standard Claims Management System payment process. Fiscal Year 2015 Miscellaneous Fee-for-Service (FFS) Claims Cutoff:Noon, Tuesday, August 8, 2017Fiscal Year 2017 FFS Claims Processing Cutoff: Noon, … [Read more...] about Fiscal Year 2017 Cutoff Dates for Fee-for-Service Year-end Closeout Processing