The purpose of the letter is to provide direction to Financial Management Services Agencies (FMSAs) on updating Consumer Directed Services (CDS) employers’ budgets to accommodate the new payment rate, effective March 1, 2014, for Community Based Alternatives (CBA) Personal Assistance Services (PAS). The Health and Human Services Commission approved rate can be found in Information Letter No. 14- 16. The rate change for CBA PAS requires a service authorization change. By May 30, 2014, the … [Read more...] about Consumer Directed Services Budget Workbook Revisions to Accommodate Rate Changes for the CBA Program
Additional Life Safety Documentation Kept in Four-person Homes
DADS has issued the following Information Letter(s): Information Letter 14-19: Additional Life Safety Documentation Kept in Four-person Homes The Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) annually conducts unannounced visits of each residence in which foster/companion care, residential support, or supervised living is provided to ensure that each residence complies with DADS Waiver Survey and Certification Residential Checklist, in accordance with DADS rule at Texas Administrative … [Read more...] about Additional Life Safety Documentation Kept in Four-person Homes
Happy Thanksgiving from Garlo Ward!
News Alerts/LTC News: 11/26 Comment Ends, 12/5 Meeting, 12/12 Webinar
-- DADS will hold a quality improvement webinar for Financial Management Services Agencies (FMSA), which is mandatory for FMSAs with a contract with DADS. The webinar is scheduled for Thursday, December 12, 2013, 1:30-3:30 p.m. You may reserve your seat here. -- From the news alert page: Due to software technical difficulties experienced over the holiday weekend, DADS may not have received any faxed Provider Investigation Report, DADS Form 3613 or 3613-A. Please refax any Provider … [Read more...] about News Alerts/LTC News: 11/26 Comment Ends, 12/5 Meeting, 12/12 Webinar
DADS News Alerts: 9/24 Culture Change Conference Reminder
-- DADS will host the annual ICF/IID Provider & Surveyor Conference, Feb. 5 & 6, 2014, at the Commons Conference Center on the J.J. Pickle Center campus in Austin. Contact Katharine McCormick at Katharine.Mccormick@dads.state.tx.us for more information. -- CMS has made available for download a presentation in their MDS 3.0 Provider Updates program, "Discharge Assessments and the Use of Dashes." -- CMS released S&C Memorandum 13-56 (PDF) to outline the steps to take to … [Read more...] about DADS News Alerts: 9/24 Culture Change Conference Reminder
DADS News Alerts: 4/16 Webinar Reminder
-- An MDS update excerpt: A recent DADS provider alert and an article in The MDS Mentor have clarified the correct way to complete MDS 3.0 item A0410. A frequent provider question is how to prevent MDS records from being submitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) when Prospective Payment System (PPS) MDS assessments are completed for private insurance and are marked A0410 = 3 due to bed certification. Facility MDS data entry software may have a field that staff can … [Read more...] about DADS News Alerts: 4/16 Webinar Reminder
ILs/News Alert: Cost Reports, MDS Data
2012 Cost Report and Cost Report Training Requirements for (in PDF): CBA HCSSA, CLASS CMA and DSA, and PHC HCS, TxHmL, and ICF/IID CBA AL, DAHS, DBMD, NF, and RC MDS 3.0 update Everyone with a Quality Improvement Evaluation System (QIES) account to submit MDS data and view CASPER reports should now update their account. Be sure all MDS Coordinators, Swing Bed Coordinators, and any other corporate and provider staff who have a QIES account follow this process to ensure they … [Read more...] about ILs/News Alert: Cost Reports, MDS Data
TX Register Updates: NorthSTAR Correction, Dual Eligibles
The following information was obtained from the June 22 issue of the Texas Register. Public Notice Correction A notice in the June 8, 2012, issue incorrectly stated that an amendment changed the NorthSTAR behavioral health program enrollment period from 30 days to 15 days. The correct period is from 45 days to 15 days. See the Texas Register for details. Withdrawn Rules HHSC withdraws the emergency new §355.8201 and §355.8202, which appeared in the January 20, 2012, issue, effective … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: NorthSTAR Correction, Dual Eligibles
DADS News Alerts: Cultural Change Initiative, NF meeting
-- As part of the cultural change initiative, DADS will host four symposia in 2012. Registration information will be available a month before each event: Lubbock – Wednesday, August 22, Holiday Inn Lubbock - Hotel and Towers Dallas – Friday, August 24, Westin Park Central San Antonio – Tuesday, November 13, Sheraton Gunter Hotel Houston – Thursday, November 15, Houston Marriott Westchase -- DADS issued an alert to providers and other qualified entities to become a residential … [Read more...] about DADS News Alerts: Cultural Change Initiative, NF meeting
Non-payment for “Never Events”: Coming to a Long-Term Care Provider Near You
Since October 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ("CMS") have not paid hospitals for certain hospital-acquired conditions. That is, CMS will not pay for certain conditions that were not present in the patient upon admission. The conditions are, as designated by CMS, conditions that are: (a) high cost or high volume or both, (b) result in the assignment of a case to a DRG that has a higher payment when present as a secondary diagnosis, and (c) could reasonably have been … [Read more...] about Non-payment for “Never Events”: Coming to a Long-Term Care Provider Near You
