-- From the news alert page: The Five Star Preview Reports were available beginning December 11th. To access these reports, select the Certification and Survey Provider Enhanced Reports (CASPER) Reporting link located at the top of your MDS State Welcome page. For Texas, this web page is at: https://158.73.90.242:81/home.html (Staff might get a warning message, but should be able to select "proceed"). Once in the CASPER Reporting system, click on the 'Folders' button and access the Five … [Read more...] about DADS News Alert: Five Star Preview Reports
TX Register Updates: Medical Board Changes
The following information was obtained from the December 20 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 adjusting or implementing fees for: 2014 Annual Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System Update; Ambulance Services; Case Management for Children and Pregnant Women; Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Services; Dental Services; Durable … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: Medical Board Changes
LTC News: MedPAC Calls for SNF Cuts
-- "The House of Representatives passed a 3-month patch late Thursday to stabilize physicians' Medicare payments -- delaying dramatic cuts scheduled for 2014 -- while Congress works on a permanent repeal of Medicare's sustainable growth rate (SGR) payment formula." - MedPageToday -- "Long-term care providers have lambasted the current [outpatient therapy payment] system, which requires Medicare contractors to manually review claims in excess of a set annual amount. Providers and government … [Read more...] about LTC News: MedPAC Calls for SNF Cuts
DADS News Alerts: PPECC Draft
-- The completed draft version of the 40 TAC Chapter 15, Licensing Standards for Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care Centers (PPECC) has been posted to the PPECC page. See the news alert page for more information. -- DADS Regulatory Services announced a new web site from your Facility Surveyor/ Liaisons. -- CMS released version 1.14.0 of the MDS 3.0 data submission specifications and version 1.12.0 of the MDS 3.0 item sets. For more information about these and other entries, see … [Read more...] about DADS News Alerts: PPECC Draft
IL/PL: NF Changes
DADS released a provider and an information letter. NF: DADS provided guidelines regarding the implementation of the new rules and their impact on: pending Medicaid bed waiver applications or exemption requests currently under review and approved Medicaid bed allocations that have not been certified. (Letter) Additionally, DADS clarified supporting documentation requirements for activities of daily living coded in Section G of MDS 3.0 assessments for state surveys and utilization … [Read more...] about IL/PL: NF Changes
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
TX Register Updates: Board of Nursing Compliance
The following information was obtained from the November 29 issue of the Texas Register. Public Notice HHSC intends to submit to CMS a request to amend the THTQIP to create a nursing facility transformation pool. See the Texas Register for details. Adopted Rules On DADS' behalf HHSC adopted amendments to §9.553, Definitions; §9.555, Definitions of TxHmL program service components; §9.567, Process for Enrollment; §9.578, Program Provider Certification Principles: Service Delivery; … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: Board of Nursing Compliance
News Alerts/LTC News: 11/26 Comment Ends, 12/5 Meeting, 12/12 Webinar
-- DADS will hold a quality improvement webinar for Financial Management Services Agencies (FMSA), which is mandatory for FMSAs with a contract with DADS. The webinar is scheduled for Thursday, December 12, 2013, 1:30-3:30 p.m. You may reserve your seat here. -- From the news alert page: Due to software technical difficulties experienced over the holiday weekend, DADS may not have received any faxed Provider Investigation Report, DADS Form 3613 or 3613-A. Please refax any Provider … [Read more...] about News Alerts/LTC News: 11/26 Comment Ends, 12/5 Meeting, 12/12 Webinar
TX Register Updates: 12/5 Hearing, Board of Nursing Changes
The following information was obtained from the November 15 issue of the Texas Register. Public Hearing and Notice HHSC will hold a hearing on Thursday, December 5, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. to receive public comment on proposed payment rates for the AL/RC services under the CBA program, CBA Personal Care III services, and RC program. The hearing will be held in the Public Hearing Room, Brown-Heatly Building, located at 4900 North Lamar, Austin. HHSC intends to submit to CMS a request to amend … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: 12/5 Hearing, Board of Nursing Changes
IL and News Alert: Cost Report Training, Electronic Signature
DADS released one information letter. CBA HCSSA, CLASS CMA and DSA, DAHS, DBMD, HCS, ICF/ID, NF, PHC, RC CBA AL, and TxHmL: DADS notified these providers of the training schedule for the 2013 cost report. An excerpt: Online training will be available to qualified preparers beginning on December 1, 2013, and will remain available through October 31, 2014. On-site classroom-based training sessions will be held in Austin on January 21, 2014 and again on February 25, 2014. Registration … [Read more...] about IL and News Alert: Cost Report Training, Electronic Signature