From the March 16 issue of the Texas Register: Under the Texas Medical Board, the Board of Acupuncture Examiners proposed to amend §183.4, Licensure, which would provide that applicants must demonstrate active practice within either of the two years before application, and that the Board can issue temporary licenses to remedy active practice deficiencies. See the Texas Register for details. … [Read more...] about TX Register Update: Medical Board Licensure
TX Register Updates: 4/29 Hearing, Medical Board Changes
The following information was obtained from the March 9 issue of the Texas Register: Public Hearing and Notices HHSC will hold a public hearing on April 19, 2012, at 2 p.m., to receive comment on proposed Medicaid payment rates for the Blind Children's Vocational Discovery and Development Program. The public hearing will be held in the Permian Basin Conference Room of HHSC, Braker Center, Building H, located at 11209 Metric Boulevard, Austin. HHSC intends to submit to CMS a request to … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: 4/29 Hearing, Medical Board Changes
TX Register Updates: New/Withdrawn Medical Board Rules
The following information was obtained from the March 2 issue of the Texas Register: Public Notices HHSC intends to submit an amendment to the Texas State Plan for Medical Assistance, which would modify the fee schedules as a result of Medicaid fee adjustments for Clinical Laboratory Services and Physicians and Other Practitioners. HHSC also intends to submit an amendment that would incorporate recent updates to the fee schedules, including adding fees for new services and modifying fees … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: New/Withdrawn Medical Board Rules
Doctors Annoyed By ER Medicaid Cuts
Washington state is one of 43 or so that face cuts in reimbursement from emergency room visits. Beginning April 1, if patients are diagnosed with any one of 500 diagnoses, Washington's Medicaid program won't pay physicians or hospitals. An excerpt from the Wall Street Journal: Instead, the state will pay a screening fee of about $50 if the patient is in a private-plan version of Medicaid, which currently enrolls about 60% of beneficiaries and is slated to grow. Patients won't be charged. The … [Read more...] about Doctors Annoyed By ER Medicaid Cuts
Physicians Avoid Medicare Payment Cuts
Last Friday, Congress voted to prevent a 27 percent cut in Medicare payments for physicians for 2012. The Kaiser Health Network's Jackie Judd interviewed colleague Mary Agnes Carey about the agreement. An excerpt: JACKIE JUDD: Good Day, this is Health on the Hill. I’m Jackie Judd. Breaking news from Capitol Hill where Senate and House negotiators have reached agreement on the "doc fix," so that physicians treating Medicare patients will not have payments slashed by 27 percent later this month. … [Read more...] about Physicians Avoid Medicare Payment Cuts
TX Register Updates: 2/28 Hearing, Reimbursement Changes
The following information was obtained from the February 10 issue of the Texas Register: Public Hearing and Notices HHSC will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, February 28, 2012, at 1 p.m. to receive comment on proposed rates for Community Living Supports - Bachelor's Level, Community Living Supports - Master's Level, and Family Supports Services in the Youth Empowerment Services Waiver. The hearing will be held in the Lone Star Conference Room. See the Texas Register for details. HHSC … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: 2/28 Hearing, Reimbursement Changes
TX Register Updates: Feb. 15 Hearing, Emergency Rules
The following information was obtained from the January 20 issue of the Texas Register. Public Notices HHSC will hold a public hearing on February 15, 2012, at 1:30 p.m., to receive comment on proposed Medicaid payment rates for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies; payment rates for annual Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System; and Medicaid payment rates for the Medicaid Biennial Calendar Fee Review. The hearing will be held Lone Star Conference Room. For … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: Feb. 15 Hearing, Emergency Rules
TX Register Updates: Military Spouses, Denying Licenses
The following information appeared in the January 13 issue of the Texas Register. Public Notices HHSC adopted a new per diem payment rate for the Tyler state-owned veterans nursing facility: $237.00. HHSC intends to submit to CMS a request to amend the Youth Empowerment Services waiver to expand the geographical area of the waiver to include Tarrant County in addition to Bexar and Travis Counties. See the Texas Register for more information. Proposed Rules HHCS proposes to amend … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: Military Spouses, Denying Licenses
TX Register Updates: Medical and Nursing Board Changes
The following information was obtained from the January 6 issue of the Texas Register: Public Hearing HHSC will hold a public hearing on January 18, 2012, at 9 a.m. to receive comment on proposed payment rates for the Medicaid Biennial Calendar Fee Review - Therapy Services provided by CORF/ORF. The hearing will be held in the Brown Heatly Building Public Hearing Room at 4900 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin. For more information, see the Texas Register. Proposed Rules The Texas Medical … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: Medical and Nursing Board Changes
Medicaid Cuts in Texas
If you treat a patient who receives both Medicare and Medicaid, your reimbursement will be limited. Earlier this year, lawmakers eliminated the Medicaid co-pay to save money in the state budget. As a result, providers might turn away more Medicaid and Medicare patients. An excerpt from the Dallas Morning News: "Doctors have to make the difficult decision whether to continue to treat these patients even though it doesn't make any financial sense,” said Steve Levine, a spokesman for the Texas … [Read more...] about Medicaid Cuts in Texas
