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Health and Human Services Transition Legislative Oversight Committee

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The presentation for the May 18 meeting of the Health and Human Services Transition Legislative Oversight Committee has been posted on the HHSC website. The presentation includes changes to the proposed top-level organizational structure for the transformed Health and Human Services system and other updates. Read about legislative reports here - http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/news/present83.asp Visit us at Garlo Ward, PC. … [Read more...] about Health and Human Services Transition Legislative Oversight Committee

Receiving Out-of-State Services in the CLASS and DBMD Programs

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 Effective immediately, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) is allowing an individual in the CLASS Case Management or DBMD programs to receive habilitation, nursing or respite services while temporarily out of state. Services outside Texas can be provided through the Consumer Directed Services (CDS) option.In the CLASS program, the services that can be provided outside of Texas through the CDS option are: • habilitation, • Community First Choice Personal Assistance … [Read more...] about Receiving Out-of-State Services in the CLASS and DBMD Programs

DADS Services – Programs/Services for Adults and Children with an Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD)

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Home and Community-based Services (HCS)Services and supports available to individuals diagnosed with an intellectual disability or a related condition, who are living with their family, in their own home or in other community settings, such as small group homes. Services include residential assistance (host home/companion care, supervised living, residential support), adaptive aids, dental treatment, minor home modifications, professional therapies, behavioral support, nursing, day habilitation, … [Read more...] about DADS Services – Programs/Services for Adults and Children with an Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD)

Increased Period of Monitoring Individuals who have Transitioned from a State Supported Living Center (SSLC) to the Home and Community-based Services (HCS) Program

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The purpose of this information letter (IL) is to inform LIDDAs, effective October 2014, the monitoring report and additional information reported for individuals who transitioned from an SSLC to the HCS program was changed from one to five years. This change ensures the unique needs of individuals served in SSLCs continue to be met by the provider. In accordance with LA Broadcast Message #0837, sent May 31, 2013, LIDDAs are required to send its monitoring reports to the Texas Department of … [Read more...] about Increased Period of Monitoring Individuals who have Transitioned from a State Supported Living Center (SSLC) to the Home and Community-based Services (HCS) Program

KEY HHSC Updates!

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 HHSC has submitted a request to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for an initial 15-month extension of the 1115 Medicaid Demonstration Waiver. Please see the Waiver Renewal page for additional information. (4/15/16)The reporting deadline for April DY5 Reporting has been extended to Wednesday, May 4th at 11:59 PM Central Daylight Time.The recording from the webinar on April DY5 Reporting has been posted on the Recorded Webinars/Conference Calls page. (4/8/16)HHSC has posted an … [Read more...] about KEY HHSC Updates!

Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) Training Required for New Employees

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 Effective May 1, 2016, new ICF/IID employees who will serve on a person’s interdisciplinary team — or otherwise work with a person to carry out the person’s individual program plan — must complete TIC training before working with that person. The new rule, Texas Administrative Code, Title 40, §90.44 Trauma-Informed Care Training, applies to certain employees of ICFs/IID, including certain employees of state supported living centers, who are hired on or after May 1, 2016.The Texas Department of … [Read more...] about Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) Training Required for New Employees

Medical Level of Need Increase in the Home and Community-based Services Program

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 Effective May 1, 2016, an HCS program provider may request Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) increase an individual’s level of need (LON) to the next higher LON if the individual:• has a LON 1, LON 5, or LON 8;• requires 181 minutes or more of face-to-face nursing services per week; and• has an Intellectual Disability/Related Condition (ID/RC) assessment reflecting a frequency code of "6" in the "Nursing" section. Visit us at Garlo Ward, PC. … [Read more...] about Medical Level of Need Increase in the Home and Community-based Services Program

Police Your Computers!

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This is the story of a successful lab company brought down by an employee using LimeWire file-sharing on her work computer.  She unwittingly left open her documents folder containing patient information.  Because LimeWire is a peer-to-peer network, the documents could be viewed by other users.A company, which offers investigative services, found the file and sent what the lab company owner considered letters of extortion.  The owner refused the service.  Pretty soon the FTC was involved.The … [Read more...] about Police Your Computers!

Facility Responsibility in Discharges and Transfers

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The purpose of this letter is to clarify the difference between transferring and discharging a resident from a NF. The determining factor that differentiates a transfer from a discharge is the assumption of responsibility for a resident’s care and not the resident’s movement.• Transfer – The releasing facility maintains responsibility for a resident’s care.• Discharge – The releasing facility ceases to have responsibility for a resident’s care.This letter also provides federal and state … [Read more...] about Facility Responsibility in Discharges and Transfers