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
Hospice Care To Increase For U.S. Veterans via Initiatives to Improve Care at the End of Life.
Recently, a Texas home hospice care patient went viral online after hundreds of inspired and sympathetic people called and sent well-wishes to terminally ill army veteran, Lee. As the story is reported in the news; the influx of support came after his wife told a friend that the Lee had asked to hold his phone and when she asked why he said, 'in case someone calls but after a couple hours and no calls he told his wife, 'I guess no one wants to talk to me.' In recent reports, A 2009 initiative … [Read more...] about Hospice Care To Increase For U.S. Veterans via Initiatives to Improve Care at the End of Life.
In the U.S. Many Terminally Ill Patients are not Receiving Palliative Care
Access to Palliative Care in the U.S. is available but often times very widespread but gradually improving in the Healthcare system. Palliative care provide certain treatments that may help to relieve patients from the side effects, symptoms and stress of serious chronic diseases, often to remedy the pain, nausea, dizziness, anxiety and depression cause from illness, as opposed to the disease itself. End of Life care has been at the forefront of conversation due to the advances in public … [Read more...] about In the U.S. Many Terminally Ill Patients are not Receiving Palliative Care
Deadline: Provider Reports Should be Reviewed By June 30. CMS Inaugural Release of Hospice Compare Scheduled for this Summer 2017.
The Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP) was mandated by the Affordable Care Act and requires the Secretary to publicly report quality measures that relate to hospice care provided by hospice programs on the Hospice Compare website. The HQRP includes data submitted by hospices through the Hospice Item Set (HIS), and the Hospice CAHPS. CMS will release its first ever Hospice Compare data report this summer. According to CMS Any corrections can be made to your HIS data for 36 months beyond the … [Read more...] about Deadline: Provider Reports Should be Reviewed By June 30. CMS Inaugural Release of Hospice Compare Scheduled for this Summer 2017.
Nursing Facility Providers Must Allow (DADS) surveyors complete access to their records
Provider Letter No. 17-20 – Electronic Health RecordsNursing Facilities may use the system of medical records that best suits their needs whether it is paper or an electronic system. As directed in the DADS released provider letter, a provider must grant access to any EHR when requested by the surveyor. During the entrance conference, surveyors will verify with the provider the process they will follow in order to have unrestricted access to a resident’s medical records. Please note that … [Read more...] about Nursing Facility Providers Must Allow (DADS) surveyors complete access to their records
HHSC – Learning Collaborative Summit
HHSC has posted information on the August 27th - 28th Statewide Learning Collaborative Summit, including the livestream link and agenda, on the Dates and Deadlines page. Visit us at Garlo Ward, PC … [Read more...] about HHSC – Learning Collaborative Summit
LTC News: CMS Rules, Provider Court Case
-- "After years of trying to clamp down on hospital spending, the federal government wants to get control over what Medicare spends on nursing homes, home health services and other medical care typically provided to patients after they have left the hospital." - Kaiser -- "In a rule issued today, [CMS] finalized payment rates and policies for 2014, including a major proposal to support care management outside the routine office interaction as well as other policies to promote high quality … [Read more...] about LTC News: CMS Rules, Provider Court Case
News Alert/SNF News: 11/18 Webinar Rebroadcast
-- DADS will rebroadcast the quarterly webinar on HCS Quality Assurance Rule Revisions from September 9, 2013, on Monday, November 18, 2013, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. You may register and receive details about the webinar here. -- "More uniform reimbursements for skilled nursing facilities and inpatient rehabilitation facilities could be implemented soon, policy analysts recently told the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission." – McKnight's -- "More than 6,000 skilled nursing facilities … [Read more...] about News Alert/SNF News: 11/18 Webinar Rebroadcast
TX Register Updates: 10/22 Hearing, BON Changes
The following information was obtained from the October 4 issue of the Texas Register. Public Hearing and Notices HHSC will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, October 22, 2013, at 9 a.m. to receive public comment on proposed rates for hospice routine home, continuous home, inpatient respite, and general inpatient care. The hearing will be held in the Public Hearing Room, Brown Heatly Building, located at 4900 North Lamar, Austin. HHSC intends to submit an amendment to the Texas State … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: 10/22 Hearing, BON Changes
LTC News: ACA Discussion, Gov’t Shutdown
-- "Although CMS posted the new manual Tuesday, just one week before it goes into effect, the agency previously had issued guidance to long-term care providers on notable changes regarding therapy and nutritional status." - McKnight's -- "The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has decided to ease guidelines concerning auditors' requests for additional documentation. CMS is giving providers a small break by saying auditors should accept additional documentation submissions in a … [Read more...] about LTC News: ACA Discussion, Gov’t Shutdown