This is horrifying. "Half a dozen cancer patients in New York developed a rare infection after they received injectable opioids that a nurse had diluted with tap water, according to a new report. It appears that the nurse tampered with the syringes to remove some of the narcotics for her own use, replacing the drugs with water, the report said." … [Read more...] about Cancer Patients Get Blood Infection from Opioid Injection Diluted by Tap Water
Nursing Home Staffing Levels Lower than Reported?
Modern Healthcare magazine is reporting that the results of a study published in Health Affairs are indicating that staffing levels are "often lower than reported" and "below what CMS expects." One area of special concern is staffing of RN's: "The numbers were most stark for RNs, where 91% of the organizations met expectations less than 60% of the time. Almost all facilities are required to have at least one RN on site for at least eight hours every day. But nearly 4% of … [Read more...] about Nursing Home Staffing Levels Lower than Reported?
Provider Letter Regarding Incident Reporting Requirements
Provider Letter PL 2018-20 (Replaces PL 13-04 and PL 18-07) This letter gives directives to the following provider types: Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs), Day Activity and HealthnServices (DAHS) Facilities, Home and Community Support Services Agencies (HCSSAs), Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with an Intellectual Disability (ICFs/IID), Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care Centers (PPECs) Nursing Facilities (NFs) A provider (as listed above) must include in an initial … [Read more...] about Provider Letter Regarding Incident Reporting Requirements
Provider Letter: Feeding Assistance Rules for Nursing Facilities
Provider Letter PL 18-17 (NF) This letter addresses feeding assistance care for nursing home residents and staffing requirements to implement rules. HHSC and Long Term Care Regulatory (LTCR) determined that the topic of feeding assistance required an updated and consolidated communication to providers. The letter details: Policy Details & Provider Responsibilities: A paid feeding assistant is an individual who meets the requirements specified in the Texas Administrative Code who is … [Read more...] about Provider Letter: Feeding Assistance Rules for Nursing Facilities
High-Tech Healthcare and Telemedicine are the Fastest Growing Initiatives in Healthcare
Patient care and value is at the forefront of many healthcare discussions in the industry. Physicians and nurses providing comfort, companionship, connection and support is considered to be just as important as providing actual medicinal treatments. Better care in relation to providing tele-medicine and high tech care in the healthcare system are the top of growing initiatives that put the patient first especially in nursing homes and hospice and palliative care facilities. According to … [Read more...] about High-Tech Healthcare and Telemedicine are the Fastest Growing Initiatives in Healthcare
Fiscal Year 2018 Cutoff Dates for Fee-for-Service Year-end Closeout Processing
Information Letter 18-08 & No. 18-09 This letter announces several dates regarding Fiscal Year 2018 Claims Processing for claims to be paid by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). August 24, 2018 by noon is the cutoff date for Home and Community-based Services Providers and Texas Home Living Providers . For all other agencies, providers and facilities listed below, the cutoff dates are as follows: • Fiscal Year 2016 Miscellaneous Fee-for-Service (FFS) Claims Cutoff: … [Read more...] about Fiscal Year 2018 Cutoff Dates for Fee-for-Service Year-end Closeout Processing
New Web-based Licensure System – Texas Unified Licensure Information Portal (TULIP)
Provider Letter : PL 18-15 - Texas Unified License Information Portal (TULIP) is a new web-based licensure system designed specifically for licensed long-term care providers it will begin on Sept 4, 2018. All licensure applications will be electronic, including those for initial licenses, renewals and changes of ownership. The provider letter out lines important dates and information related to TULIP’s benefits and features, as well as instructions for making a successful transition to … [Read more...] about New Web-based Licensure System – Texas Unified Licensure Information Portal (TULIP)
HHS Releases Report on Hospice Care Fraud in US
A report released recently released by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) at the US Department of Health titled: Vulnerabilities in the Medicare Hospice Program Affect Quality Care and Program Integrity has highlighted that hospice care fraud is a nationwide problem in the US. The report found that hospices do not always provide needed services to beneficiaries and sometimes provide poor quality care for Nursing home residents and other patients. When care is provided hospices’ inappropriate … [Read more...] about HHS Releases Report on Hospice Care Fraud in US
Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act goes to Senate For Approval, May Become Law
Palliative and hospice care can improve both the quality of care and quality of life for patients who are terminally ill and their families. Now the Senate has the decision to follow the U.S. House of Representatives, which has unanimously approved a bill that would help doctors and other healthcare professional elevate their skills in providing hospice and palliative care. The H.R.1676 - Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act would also increase palliative care research and … [Read more...] about Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act goes to Senate For Approval, May Become Law
New CMS payment system for skilled nursing facilities reimburses providers for care not volume
CMS new Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) will be implemented on Oct. 1, 2019. CMS finalized the Patient-Driven Payment Model for skilled nursing facilities (SNF), which will link Medicare payments to value and care, rather than volume/ fee-for-service care. The rule according to news reports “would reduce documentation standards around patient assessments, saving facilities approximately $2 billion over 10 years," and would "give a $975 million collective raise next year to post-acute care … [Read more...] about New CMS payment system for skilled nursing facilities reimburses providers for care not volume
