DADS released an information/provider letter and an information letter. All NF Admins: An excerpt (the letter includes two attachments with contact information): Texas is a national leader in NF relocation through its Money Follows the Person program. The new minimum data set (MDS) 3.0 Section Q supports the U.S. Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision (June 1999) and Texas' own Promoting Independence Initiative and Promoting Independence Plan. An individual’s stated goal to relocate back to … [Read more...] about ILs/PL: MDS 3.0, Pre-filling Medication Planners
Positive Behavior Management Workshops
-- Registration has opened for Positive Behavior Management Workshops. The first will be held in Abilene on July 8 & 9, 2013, and the second in Denton on August 1 & 2, 2013. See the news alert page for details, including contact information. -- You may download the corrected (4/5/13) "Change of Therapy (COT) Determination Flowchart" here (PDF). -- A news alert excerpt: A recent DADS provider alert and an article in The MDS Mentor have clarified the correct way to complete MDS … [Read more...] about Positive Behavior Management Workshops
TX Register Updates: EPSDT Changes
The following information was obtained from the April 5 issue of the Texas Register. HHSC adopted an amendment to §355.8441, Reimbursement Methodologies for Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Services, which allows eligible dental providers to continue to receive additional federal funding under the Texas Healthcare Transformation and Quality Improvement 1115 Waiver. See the Texas Register for details. … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: EPSDT Changes
Governor Perry to Discuss Medicaid Today
McKnight's reports that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a final rule confirming that the federal government will pay the full cost of new Medicaid beneficiaries as the program expands across the country to implement the health care reform law. However, the federal government's contribution will decrease after 2016. By 2020, the contribution will be 90 percent. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the heath care reform law but gave states the option to expand Medicaid. Some … [Read more...] about Governor Perry to Discuss Medicaid Today
TX Register Updates: HHSC-OIC Provisions
The following information was obtained from the March 29 issue of the Texas Register. HHSC adopted amendments to §354.2401, Definitions; §354.2403, Monitoring and Review; §354.2405, Utilization Control Methods; and §354.2407, Recipient Rights. The amendments update existing HHSC Office of Inspector General provisions relating to the lock-in of recipients who overuse Medicaid services, as authorized by federal regulations at 42 CFR §431.54(e). See the Texas Register for more information. … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: HHSC-OIC Provisions
Senate Bill, Long Term Care News
SB 1842: Relating to rules for restraint and seclusion procedures at certain facilities. -- McKnight's reports on a lethal, antibiotic-resistant bacteria in acute and long term care facilities: The bacteria, Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), are found in healthy digestive systems but cause infections when they get in other organs or the bloodstream. Some CRE germs are resistant even to antibiotics of "last resort," such as carbapenems, and the germs can transfer their … [Read more...] about Senate Bill, Long Term Care News
TX Register Updates: Fee Schedules and Rates
The following information was obtained from the March 22 issue of the Texas Register. Public Notices HHSC intends to submit an amendment to the Texas State Plan for Medical Assistance to update the fee schedules in the current state plan by including fees for new services and modifying fees for existing services: Dental Services; Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies; Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Services; and Physicians and Certain Other … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: Fee Schedules and Rates
Medicaid News: Expansion, Physician Shortage
"In the letter (PDF) [to the Texas congressional delegation ] Perry reaffirms his pledge not to expand Medicaid, an important — if optional — tenet of President Obama's federal health care law. Medicaid serves the disabled and poor children; the Affordable Care Act aims to expand coverage to more impoverished adults." - Texas Tribune "With extra federal money coming in, Medicaid expansion could offset $1.2 billion in the 2014-15 biennium budget that Texas would spend on other health programs … [Read more...] about Medicaid News: Expansion, Physician Shortage
ILs/PLs: Dental Contractor, Asbestos Survey
DADS released two information and two provider letters: NF, Hospice, and ICF/IID: DADS informs providers that when billing for non-Medicare covered services, they're not required to file a claim to determine the liability of a Medicare Supplemental Insurance policy. (Letter) CLASS, CMA DSA: DADS recently contracted with contract with the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. An excerpt: As part of the expansion of Utilization Management and Review (UMR), the … [Read more...] about ILs/PLs: Dental Contractor, Asbestos Survey
TX Register Updates: Waiver Renewals, Medical Board Changes
The following information was obtained from the March 15 issue of the Texas Register. Public Notices HHSC intends to submit to CMS a request to renew the HCS waiver program and an amendment to the CBA waiver program. See the Texas Register for details. Proposed Rules HHSC proposed to amend §355.8066, Hospital-Specific Limit Methodology, which would provide more detail about the formulas used to calculate the hospital-specific limit, describe the use of a survey to collect data from … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: Waiver Renewals, Medical Board Changes
