The purpose of this letter is to inform Medicaid Hospice Providers of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) changes to routine home care payments. These changes reflect resource intensity in the provision of care and services during the course of hospice care. This change was authorized under the “FY 2016 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Requirements” published August 6, 2015.Beginning January 1, 2016, the changes to the routine home … [Read more...] about Increased Medicaid Hospice Routine Home Care Payment Rates

License capacity versus occupancy load for DAHS facilitiesLicense capacity for a DAHS facility (the maximum number of clients served in the DAHS facility at any time during the day) is based on the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) minimum standards for licensure at Texas Administrative Code Title 40, Part 1, Chapter 98, §98.42 and §98.43.The maximum occupancy load for a building (meaning the total number of people who may occupy a workplace, or a portion of a workplace, at any … [Read more...] about DAHS – Capacity

Health and Human Services Commission Announces New Medicaid DirectorGary Jessee, a 20-year veteran of state service, will be Texas' new state Medicaid director, Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Chris Traylor announced.Jessee, who has served three years as the Medicaid/CHIP Division's chief deputy director for program operations, replaces Kay Ghahremani who is retiring after 20 years with the state.Visit us at Garlo Ward, PC. … [Read more...] about New Medicaid Director

 Effective September 1, 2015, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) no longer requires contractors of emergency response services under Title XX of the Social Security Act to have the following:a license as a personal emergency response system provider issued by the Department of State Health Services in accordance with Title 25, Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 140, Subchapter B (relating to Personal Emergency Response System Providers); ora license as an … [Read more...] about Information Letter No. 15-73 Removal of Licensure Requirements

 The DSHS Vital Statistics Unit is hosting their 61st Annual Vital Statistics Conference Dec. 9-11 at the Renaissance Hotel in Austin.Learn about emerging funeral service practices, the history of vital statistics, open records requests, planning for continuity of operations as well as new statutes, rules and regulations relating to vital records. Continuing education credits will be offered.To learn more or to register, visit the Texas Public Health Association website. Visit us at Garlo … [Read more...] about Vital Statistics Conference Dec. 9-11

Sunset Commission Seeks Your Feedback on ERSThis year, the 84th Texas Legislature tasked the Sunset Advisory Commission to review ERS. Unlike other state agencies undergoing Sunset review, ERS isn’t subject to abolishment under the Sunset Act. However, the Legislature could decide to make changes to improve ERS. The commission is seeking feedback from ERS members. If you’d like to share your ideas on how to improve ERS, send an email to sunset@sunset.state.tx.us oruse the comment form on the … [Read more...] about Sunset Commission Seeks Your Feedback on ERS

The Office of the Inspector General is clear on its intent to continue rooting out fraud and abuse.  “The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) 2016 Work Plan comes with a warning: the OIG continues to be relentless in detecting and pursuing waste, fraud, and abuse.” The work plan also says, according to the RAC Monitor, that, “During 2016 and beyond, OIG officials said the agency would continue oversight of hospice care, including oversight of … [Read more...] about OIG – Fraud & Abuse