Recently, a Texas home hospice care patient went viral online after hundreds of inspired and sympathetic people called and sent well-wishes to terminally ill army veteran, Lee. As the story is reported in the news; the influx of support came after his wife told a friend that the Lee had asked to hold his phone and when she asked why he said, 'in case someone calls but after a couple hours and no calls he told his wife, 'I guess no one wants to talk to me.' In recent reports, A 2009 initiative … [Read more...] about Hospice Care To Increase For U.S. Veterans via Initiatives to Improve Care at the End of Life.
In the U.S. Many Terminally Ill Patients are not Receiving Palliative Care
Access to Palliative Care in the U.S. is available but often times very widespread but gradually improving in the Healthcare system. Palliative care provide certain treatments that may help to relieve patients from the side effects, symptoms and stress of serious chronic diseases, often to remedy the pain, nausea, dizziness, anxiety and depression cause from illness, as opposed to the disease itself. End of Life care has been at the forefront of conversation due to the advances in public … [Read more...] about In the U.S. Many Terminally Ill Patients are not Receiving Palliative Care
Preparing for the Upcoming Fiscal Year 2017 Fee-for-Service Claims Billing Closeout
Information Letter No. 17-13 - This letter is addressed to all service providers, facilities, and agencies. August 31, 2017 is the end of fiscal year closeout and it is important for all providers to promptly submit claims to be paid by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) for any unbilled services. HHS will publish additional details regarding cutoff dates for fiscal year 2017. This information letter addresses the following:12-month filing rule - Providers should ensure not … [Read more...] about Preparing for the Upcoming Fiscal Year 2017 Fee-for-Service Claims Billing Closeout
New Process Requires Online Completion of Requests for Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) Specialized Services
Information Letter No. 17-12 - DADS is notifying nursing facility providers of the new process for requesting Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) nursing facility specialized services. Paper forms are no longer acceptable. Providers have to now log onto the TMHP LTC Online Portal and complete a Nursing Facility Specialized Services (NFSS) form to request the following PASRR nursing facility specialized services. and the information letter details that the Health and Human … [Read more...] about New Process Requires Online Completion of Requests for Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) Specialized Services
Palliative Care Education and Information Program launched by HHSC to educate Texans on Hospice & Supportive Care
HHS published information regarding a newly launched Palliative Care Education and Information Program. The online program is a resource that educates Texans about end of life care and support by offering assistance and tools for patients, families and providers. According to Jimmy Blanton, director of HHSC’s Health Quality Institute in the Quality and Program Improvement section, the program, a result of a House Bill 1874, was implemented to "address some of the misconceptions around palliative … [Read more...] about Palliative Care Education and Information Program launched by HHSC to educate Texans on Hospice & Supportive Care
Deadline: Provider Reports Should be Reviewed By June 30. CMS Inaugural Release of Hospice Compare Scheduled for this Summer 2017.
The Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP) was mandated by the Affordable Care Act and requires the Secretary to publicly report quality measures that relate to hospice care provided by hospice programs on the Hospice Compare website. The HQRP includes data submitted by hospices through the Hospice Item Set (HIS), and the Hospice CAHPS. CMS will release its first ever Hospice Compare data report this summer. According to CMS Any corrections can be made to your HIS data for 36 months beyond the … [Read more...] about Deadline: Provider Reports Should be Reviewed By June 30. CMS Inaugural Release of Hospice Compare Scheduled for this Summer 2017.
DADS will begin reviewing and retiring, revising and/or reissuing provider letters issued eight years ago or more
Provider Letter No. 17-08 – Process for Retiring Provider LettersThe goals of this retire or revise initiative are to streamline DADS regulatory policies, reduce provider and stakeholder confusion, and manage the volume of letters with which DADS-regulated facilities, agencies, and licensees are expected to be familiar. DADS will begin issuing a series of program specific PLs that announce the list of letters that are being retired.Please be advised that notice that a letter is being retired … [Read more...] about DADS will begin reviewing and retiring, revising and/or reissuing provider letters issued eight years ago or more
Criminal History, Nurse Aide Registry (NAR), and Employee Misconduct Registry (EMR) Requirements
Provider Letter No. 16-21 Criminal History, Nurse Aide Registry (NAR), and Employee Misconduct Registry (EMR) Requirements (Replaces PL 15-34 and PL 06-48) HCSSAs are required to verify an unlicensed employment applicant’s employability before hiring, if the employee’s duties would or do include face-to-face contact with a client. The verification includes criminal history checks as well as searches of the EMR and the NAR. The following provides additional information about these … [Read more...] about Criminal History, Nurse Aide Registry (NAR), and Employee Misconduct Registry (EMR) Requirements
New Billing Codes and Payment Rates for Hospice Physician Directed Care Claims
Effective October 1, 2015, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) implemented new billing codes and payment rates for Medicaid Hospice (Service Group 8) / Physician Direct Care services (Service Code 30). Each procedure code for physician directed care services has two new billing codes and payment rates. The new billing codes and payment rates are age-specific, one set of billing codes for services to individuals less than 21 years old and another for individuals 21 … [Read more...] about New Billing Codes and Payment Rates for Hospice Physician Directed Care Claims
Per Diem Rates Effective September 1, 2014, for the Nursing Facility Program, Hospice Program in Nursing Facilities and Swing Bed Program
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) approved new per diem payment rates for the Nursing Facility (NF) Program, the Hospice Program in NFs and the Swing Bed Program, effective September 1, 2014. See letter. Nursing Facility and Swing Bed Program Payment Rates The new NF and Swing Bed payment rates can be accessed through the HHSC Rate Analysis website at the following address: http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/rad/long-term-svcs/nursing-facility/index.shtml. Once you access this … [Read more...] about Per Diem Rates Effective September 1, 2014, for the Nursing Facility Program, Hospice Program in Nursing Facilities and Swing Bed Program
