Under the new health care reform law, millions more Americans will receive insurance coverage under Medicaid. According to Kaiser Health News, the health care reform law will raise Medicaid payment rates to the same level as Medicare rates in an effort to alleviate the burden on primary care physicians. However, the increase may be temporary. An excerpt: "The higher Medicaid payments would take effect in 2013 and would be funded entirely by the federal government. But the bill doesn't … [Read more...] about Increased Medicaid Rates and Primary Care Physicians
Physician-Owned Hospitals Limited Under Health Care Reform
The Dallas Morning News once reported that Dallas-Forth Worth has more physician-owned hospitals than any other metro area. About 9.7 percent of the country's physician-owned hospitals are in the area, and Texas itself has the highest rate in the country. Opponents of physician-owned hospitals are concerned that doctors may base medical decisions on how much money they'll make and that such facilities create conflict of interest issues that could put patients in danger. For these and other … [Read more...] about Physician-Owned Hospitals Limited Under Health Care Reform
Texas Register Updates: Medicaid Fees, Hearing Aid Services, Etc.
The following was obtained from the March 26 issue of the Texas Register: Public Hearings and Notices HHSC will hold a public hearing on March 31, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 2900 Live Oak Street (Center for Community Cooperation, Oak Corner Meeting Facility), Dallas, Texas. See the relevant section of the Texas Register for details. HHSC intends to submit an amendment to the Texas State Plan for Medical Assistance, under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, which would modify the … [Read more...] about Texas Register Updates: Medicaid Fees, Hearing Aid Services, Etc.
Texas Register Updates: HCS, Texas Medical Board
The following information was obtained from the March 5 issue of the Texas Register: Public Notices HHSC announced a contract award valued at $163,915 to Health Management Associates, to provide consulting services to HHSC regarding a pilot to serve people with intellectual and development disabilities. HHSC intends to submit to CMS an amendment to the HCS, which would increase the number of people to be served in the HCS waiver program and the reimbursement rates for some of the … [Read more...] about Texas Register Updates: HCS, Texas Medical Board
Texas Register Updates: NFs, DBMD, Texas Medical Board
The following information was obtained from the February 26 issue of the Texas Register: Proposed Rules HHSC proposes to amend several sections of the code, including Nursing Facility Administrators, Nursing Facility Requirements For Licensure And Medicaid Certification, Medicaid Waiver Program For People Who Are Deaf Blind With Multiple Disabilities, DBMD Program, Enrollment Process, and Transfer Between Program Providers. See the relevant section of the Texas Register and scroll down … [Read more...] about Texas Register Updates: NFs, DBMD, Texas Medical Board
Texas Register Updates: Life Safety Code Inspection, March 15 Hearing
The following information was obtained from the February 19 issue of the Texas Register: Proposed Rules HHSC proposes to amend Subchapter B, Definitions, §19.101, concerning definitions; Subchapter D, Facility Construction, §19.330, concerning construction and initial survey of completed construction; and new §19.220, concerning expedited life safety code and physical plant inspection fees, in Chapter 19, Nursing Facility Requirements for Licensure and Medicaid Certification. The … [Read more...] about Texas Register Updates: Life Safety Code Inspection, March 15 Hearing
Texas HHSC Proposes Medicaid Cuts
The Dallas Morning News reports that nursing facilities could see a two percent Medicaid cut if Texas Health and Human Services Commissioner Tom Suehs's proposed reductions go through. To deal with a potential budget shortfall, Governor Rick Perry, Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, and House Speaker Joe Straus asked HHSC to reduce Medicaid spending by five percent. Suehs offered a list of reductions worth $304 million. "We were asked to lay out options," Stephanie Goodman, a spokesperson … [Read more...] about Texas HHSC Proposes Medicaid Cuts
Congressional Democrats Now Wary of Health Care Reform
In light of Republican Scott Brown's defeat of Democrat Martha Coakley for the late Ted Kennedy's U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts, Democrats in both houses of Congress are considering trying to pass health care reform in smaller bills rather than one large bill. During his campaign, Brown publicly opposed President Barack Obama's health care reform plan. Democrats interpreted his win as a consensus against reform as offered by Congress. Kaiser Health News has a round-up of stories from … [Read more...] about Congressional Democrats Now Wary of Health Care Reform
MedPAC Recommends Adjusted Medicare Payment Rates
MedPAC, which advises Congress on Medicare, released a set of recommendations. (Source - PDF) An excerpt: "To restore budget neutrality, the Congress should require the Secretary to fully offset increases in inpatient payments due to hospitals' documentation and coding improvements. To accomplish this, the Secretary must reduce payment rates in the inpatient prospective payment system by the same percentage (not to exceed 2 percentage points) each year in 2011, 2012, and 2013. The lower rates … [Read more...] about MedPAC Recommends Adjusted Medicare Payment Rates
Texas Register Updates: Intervener Rates, Physician Services
The following information was obtained from the January 8 issue of the Texas Register: Public Hearing HHSC will hold a public hearing on January 26, 2010, at 10:30 a.m., for public comment on proposed rates for Intervener services in the DBMD, operated by DADS. The hearing will be held in the Lone Star Conference Room of the Health and Human Services Commission, Braker Center, Building H, located at 11209 Metric Blvd, Austin, Texas. See the relevant section of the Texas Register for more … [Read more...] about Texas Register Updates: Intervener Rates, Physician Services
