In a letter dated May 14, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) notified assisted living providers, provider organizations, and surveyors about a conference called, “Clarifying the Myths in Assisted Living Facilities.†The conference will be held on July 19, 24, and 31. Topics to be presented include aging in place, emergency preparedness, and medication management. For locations and times, you may download the letter here. DADS reminded nursing facilities (in a … [Read more...] about Provider Letters: ‘Clarifying the Myths in Assisted Living Facilities,’ Cost of Living Adjustments
Cooperation Key to Nursing Home Quality Improvements
Mary Ousley, past chair of the American Health Care Association, which represents long term care providers, testified before a congressional committee last week about the long term care profession’s experience with the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA ‘87). OBRA '87 is considered landmark legislation because it established many nursing home oversight rules in place today. Ousley said that in order to improve nursing facilities, providers, regulators, and consumers must … [Read more...] about Cooperation Key to Nursing Home Quality Improvements
Provider Letters: Minimizing Claim Rejections, Life Safety Code, Etc.
May 1 The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) sent an informational letter to long term care providers about what they can do to minimize claim rejections. Attached to the two-page letter is a two-page chart titled, “Common Reasons Claims Deny.†Download the letter and chart here. May 7 All home and community-based services waiver program providers will be required to comply with the 2006 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101 Life Safety Code, … [Read more...] about Provider Letters: Minimizing Claim Rejections, Life Safety Code, Etc.
Provider Letters: National Provider Identifier and Criminal History Checks
April 27 The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) informed nursing facilities, community services, ICF/MR, and therapy providers about the National Provider Identifier (NPI) reporting process. An NPI is a 10-digit number used to identify health care providers. To prevent delays in billing, all providers that contract with DADS are required to report an NPI or Atypical Provider Identifier to DADS before June 1, 2007. For more information, download the letter here. May … [Read more...] about Provider Letters: National Provider Identifier and Criminal History Checks
STAR+PLUS Clients Letter and Fire Authority Memo
In a letter dated April 26, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services informed nursing facility providers new to the STAR+PLUS program about the program’s enrollment procedures and assured them that effective January 1, 2007, the STAR+PLUS enrollment will not impact the nursing facility process. For more information, download the letter here. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released a memo dated April 20 to state survey agency directors concerning “Permitted … [Read more...] about STAR+PLUS Clients Letter and Fire Authority Memo
Long Term Care Providers Face More Medicare Reimbursement Cuts
Providers receiving Medicare reimbursements could see more reductions in reimbursements by 2011, the Kaiser Network reports. Under the 2005 Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act, which President Bush signed into law in 2006, the federal government will be required to withhold three percent of payments to business that pay taxes and contract with the government. This law will significantly affect providers that depend on Medicare reimbursements to operate. Lawmakers are working to … [Read more...] about Long Term Care Providers Face More Medicare Reimbursement Cuts
DADS Updates: Amendments, Waivers, and Newsletter
On behalf of the Texas Depart of Aging and Disability Services (DADS), the Texas Health and Human Services Commission adopted amendments to the Adult Day Care and Day Activity and Health Services section of the code that allows updates to terminology and agency names and to correct rule cross references. For more information about the amendments, see the relevant section of the March 23 Texas Register. DADS has posted the Community Needs Waivers Requests on its web site. The form contains … [Read more...] about DADS Updates: Amendments, Waivers, and Newsletter
CMS Webcast On Improving Nursing Home Quality and Payment
On Friday, March 23, 2007, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) broadcast a two-hour presentation on improving nursing home quality and payments via satellite and the Internet. The presentation was shown on the CMS digital network channel 712. Providers interested in seeing the presentation can watch it via webcast for up to 12 months at CMS's webcast page. For more information about topics discussed, download the memo here. … [Read more...] about CMS Webcast On Improving Nursing Home Quality and Payment
Provider Letters: Medicare Certification Surveys, Personal Needs Allowance, Etc.
The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) has released four new letters addressed to the following providers: Home Health Agencies (HHAs): DADS notified HHAs seeking Medicare certification that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has asked DADS to stop scheduling Medicare certification surveys of HHAs. For more information, download the seven-page letter here. Medicaid-certified HHAs: DADS reminded Medicaid-certified HHAs that effective May 23, 2007, they must … [Read more...] about Provider Letters: Medicare Certification Surveys, Personal Needs Allowance, Etc.
Long Term Care Financing
The Kaiser Foundation has updated its issue module on financing long term care. According to Kaiser, about 9.5 million Americans need long term care, and with the first of the baby boomers ready to retire, the number will increase. By 2030, the number of long term care recipients will double. Kaiser estimates that over $158 billion was spent on long term care in 2004, and the average yearly cost of nursing home care is $74,000. Medicaid pays for most long term care, but recipients pay … [Read more...] about Long Term Care Financing