Information Letter No. 17-19DADS has published the latest information letter regarding Temporary Extension of Medicaid for Certain Intellectual Developmental Disability Waiver Program Recipients Who Lose Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid. With a denial of SSI, Medicaid is automatically ended. This letter is for informational purposes regarding a process change affecting certain individuals receiving waiver services and does not affect the providers’ or local intellectual developmental … [Read more...] about Temporary Extension of Medicaid for Certain Intellectual Developmental Disability Waiver Program Recipients
Failure to Deliver PASRR Services – Level I Screening and Level II Evaluation Assessments
Provider Letter No. 17-15 - DAD'S latest provider letter addressing Nursing Facilities reports on clarification that the role of the nursing facility (NF) is to coordinate completion of the Level I screening and Level II evaluation assessments with appropriate entities. The letter reports:Nursing Facilities must comply with both state and federal requirements related to Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR). This includes coordinating with appropriate entities to ensure completion … [Read more...] about Failure to Deliver PASRR Services – Level I Screening and Level II Evaluation Assessments
Palliative Care and Hospice Management and Leadership Intensive on July 28th
AXIS Medical Education and Texas & New Mexico Hospice Organization will host a one day intensive for Hospice and Palliative Care leaders on July 28th. The educational activity will help providers and leaders in Hospice and Palliative care to engage, interact, and focus on timely issues that will lead us into the future. Throughout the intensive, participants will focus on exceptional hospice and palliative care service delivery, regulatory/policy issues, compliance concerns, dialog about how … [Read more...] about Palliative Care and Hospice Management and Leadership Intensive on July 28th
Texas Health and Human Services Commission Notice: Removal of Service Codes for Habilitation and Residential Habilitation
The latest Information Letter No. 17-15 - As of July 10th, some services codes associated with habilitation have been removed by Texas Health and Human Services Commission. CLASS DSA, DBMD program provider, or FMSA are no longer able to submit a service claim that includes any of these service codes described below: ? service codes 10, 10A, and 10V associated with CLASS habilitation; and? service codes 17 and 17V associated with DBMD residential habilitation.A CLASS DSA or DBMD program provider … [Read more...] about Texas Health and Human Services Commission Notice: Removal of Service Codes for Habilitation and Residential Habilitation
CMS to add 200 more facilities to the Music & Memory Program in Texas. Latest expansion to include 165 more nursing homes.
Music therapy is one of the methods that health facilities and providers are researching which may be beneficial to people with disabilities living in long-term intermediate care facilities. The Music & Memory initiative for Dementia patients began in 2015 as a way to improve and build upon the quality of life for those nursing home residents. The music and memory program's first two phases included a roll-out at 250 nursing homes in Texas. The program is executed by using Apple iPods or … [Read more...] about CMS to add 200 more facilities to the Music & Memory Program in Texas. Latest expansion to include 165 more nursing homes.
CMS & CBO Report different numbers on possible effect of AHCA in the healthcare market
The Republican led U.S. House of Representatives approved the American Health Care Act of 2017 last may and now the Office of the Chief Actuary of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released its report on the Estimated Financial Effect of the “AHCA .” According to reports from the Health Affairs Organization:"The headline from the Actuary’s report that is likely to receive the most attention is that the CMS Actuary sees the AHCA as increasing the uninsured by 4 million for 2018/2019 … [Read more...] about CMS & CBO Report different numbers on possible effect of AHCA in the healthcare market
New Rule Amendments in Texas Administrative Code (TAC) for NFA’s
Provider Letter No. 17-19 - The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) amended existing rules in 40 TAC Chapter 18, Nursing Facility Administrators (NFAs). These changes were initiated to:• clarify when a NFA may request an informal review;• update the time frame for requesting a formal hearing; and• amend the list of violations that lead to sanctions.There are amendments to 40 TAC §18.52, 40 TAC §18.53 & 40 TAC §18.54.You may access the amended rules for Chapter 18 … [Read more...] about New Rule Amendments in Texas Administrative Code (TAC) for NFA’s
Effective immediately, facilities must include DADS-provided, web-based PASRR training.
Provider Letter No. 17-16 – Guidelines Regarding Plans of Correction Associated with a PASRR ViolationNursing facilities (NFs) must comply with both state and federal requirements related to Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR). Effective immediately, facilities must include DADS-provided, web-based PASRR training for, at a minimum, the nursing facility administrator and the director of nursing in all POCs associated with any PASRR violation. POCs that do not include such training … [Read more...] about Effective immediately, facilities must include DADS-provided, web-based PASRR training.
HHSC – Learning Collaborative Summit
HHSC has posted information on the August 27th - 28th Statewide Learning Collaborative Summit, including the livestream link and agenda, on the Dates and Deadlines page. Visit us at Garlo Ward, PC … [Read more...] about HHSC – Learning Collaborative Summit
An Epistle from Procrustes: Putting Doctors on the Iron Bed
My dearest Alexander (whose name means “ruler of men”): I have been referred to you by one of the most infamous Masters of the Universe, Caligula. By way of introduction, my name is Procrustes, the son of Poseidon and a robber-king in my own right. In mortality I was known to some as “The Subduer” and to others as “The Stretcher”; the first title acknowledges my domination of men, the latter describes the means I employed to achieve it – a method I am happy to share with you. MY STORY As … [Read more...] about An Epistle from Procrustes: Putting Doctors on the Iron Bed