In a letter dated February 13, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) alerted Intermediate Care Facility for Persons with Mental Retardation (ICF-MR) Providers about its annual Long-Term Services and Supports Experience Survey 2007 Project. A random sample of recipients who receive long-term services through ICF-MRs will be interviewed by the NACES Plus Foundation, Inc., for the purpose of assessing and improving quality of care. For more information, download the letter … [Read more...] about Provider Letters: Survey Notice and Criminal History Review
Provider Letter: Electronic Letters Only
The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services announced that effective March 15, 2007, it will no longer mail hard copies of general information letters regarding Home and Community-based Services (HCS) and Texas Home Living programs (TxHmL) to program providers and mental retardation authorities (MRA). You may download HCS letters here and TxHmL letters here. For more information how to subscribe to receive e-mail updates, download the letter here. … [Read more...] about Provider Letter: Electronic Letters Only
Four New Provider Letters
Submission of the Hospice Election Form 3071 and Physician Certification of Terminal Illness Form 3074 The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) informed Medicaid hospice providers that it has updated its list of regional contacts for hospice election and certification forms to Community Services, Texas Medicaid and Healthcare Partnership, and Health and Human Services Commission Medicaid Eligibility staff. For more information, download the letter and attached list of … [Read more...] about Four New Provider Letters
Texas Register Updates: Community Relations Repeals, Nursing Facility Amendments, Etc.
Updates from the December 22 edition of the Texas Register include the repeal of 40 TAC §§7.301 through 7.311 and §§7.313 through 7.316, concerning community relations, amendments to nursing facilities licensure and Medicaid certification requirement provisions, health and human services agencies licensing remedies, amendments to sections dealing with licensing standards for assisted living facilities, and more. For more information, visit the relevant section of the Texas … [Read more...] about Texas Register Updates: Community Relations Repeals, Nursing Facility Amendments, Etc.
Provider Letter: Medicare Certification Alert for HCSSAs
In a provider letter dated December 1, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) notified home health agencies seeking Medicare certification that DADS will no longer schedule initial Medicare certification surveys, per a directive by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. From the letter: Background Over the last five years, Texas has experienced unprecedented growth in the number of HHAs seeking certification. The five-state CMS Region 6 (Texas, New … [Read more...] about Provider Letter: Medicare Certification Alert for HCSSAs
New Rules for Licensing Standards
The Texas Department of Health and Human Services Commission has adopted several amendments that will affect licensing standards for Home and Community Support Services Agencies, published September 8, 2006. The rule changes "set for the criteria" used for determining whether a conviction will bar a person from obtaining licensure or participating in agency management. The amendments and new section also adds definitions, corrects, errors, and eliminates certain offenses that currently bar … [Read more...] about New Rules for Licensing Standards
Provider Letters: Billing Requirements, Immunizations, and CMS Alert
In a letter dated November 2, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) informed nursing facilities and community services providers that third-party billers are required to enter into a contract with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission before claims can be submitted to the Texas Medicaid HealthCare Partnership, effective June 30, 2007. This is an effort to combat fraud. You may download the letter here. DADS informed home and community support services … [Read more...] about Provider Letters: Billing Requirements, Immunizations, and CMS Alert
Medicare News Roundup
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has made a series of announcements about Medicare: 1. Payment rates for home health services will increase by 3.3 percent for 2007. The acting administrator for CMS said this increase will “reward home health agencies who continue to report quality data and also provides beneficiaries with access to more affordable oxygen equipment.†(Source) 2. CMS also announced a final rule for Medicare payments for hospital outpatient services … [Read more...] about Medicare News Roundup
Texas Register Updates
On behalf of the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has adopted an amendment to §9.178 in Chapter 9, Subchapter D, which restores text inadvertently replaced with incorrect text during previous adoption of an amendment. For more information, see the relevant section of the Texas Register. HHSC announced its intent to submit Transmittal Number 06-030, Amendment Number 748, to the Texas State Plan for Medical Assistance. … [Read more...] about Texas Register Updates
The False Claims Act–A Significant Hammer!
For an example of how whistleblowers and the False Claims Act interact, read this article, Home Health Care Industry Reels from Medicare Scandal. Whistleblowers can bring qui tam lawsuits against providers and benefit hugely. In this particular case, the whistleblower benefits as follows: The False Claims Act permits individuals to file qui tam lawsuits against companies that defraud the government. Liable companies pay as much as three times the government's losses plus penalties for … [Read more...] about The False Claims Act–A Significant Hammer!