-- "After years of trying to clamp down on hospital spending, the federal government wants to get control over what Medicare spends on nursing homes, home health services and other medical care typically provided to patients after they have left the hospital." - Kaiser -- "In a rule issued today, [CMS] finalized payment rates and policies for 2014, including a major proposal to support care management outside the routine office interaction as well as other policies to promote high quality … [Read more...] about LTC News: CMS Rules, Provider Court Case
TX Register Updates: Board of Nursing Compliance
The following information was obtained from the November 29 issue of the Texas Register. Public Notice HHSC intends to submit to CMS a request to amend the THTQIP to create a nursing facility transformation pool. See the Texas Register for details. Adopted Rules On DADS' behalf HHSC adopted amendments to §9.553, Definitions; §9.555, Definitions of TxHmL program service components; §9.567, Process for Enrollment; §9.578, Program Provider Certification Principles: Service Delivery; … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: Board of Nursing Compliance
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
TX Register Updates: 12/5 Hearing, Board of Nursing Changes
The following information was obtained from the November 15 issue of the Texas Register. Public Hearing and Notice HHSC will hold a hearing on Thursday, December 5, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. to receive public comment on proposed payment rates for the AL/RC services under the CBA program, CBA Personal Care III services, and RC program. The hearing will be held in the Public Hearing Room, Brown-Heatly Building, located at 4900 North Lamar, Austin. HHSC intends to submit to CMS a request to amend … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: 12/5 Hearing, Board of Nursing Changes
IL and News Alert: Cost Report Training, Electronic Signature
DADS released one information letter. CBA HCSSA, CLASS CMA and DSA, DAHS, DBMD, HCS, ICF/ID, NF, PHC, RC CBA AL, and TxHmL: DADS notified these providers of the training schedule for the 2013 cost report. An excerpt: Online training will be available to qualified preparers beginning on December 1, 2013, and will remain available through October 31, 2014. On-site classroom-based training sessions will be held in Austin on January 21, 2014 and again on February 25, 2014. Registration … [Read more...] about IL and News Alert: Cost Report Training, Electronic Signature
News Alert/SNF News: 11/18 Webinar Rebroadcast
-- DADS will rebroadcast the quarterly webinar on HCS Quality Assurance Rule Revisions from September 9, 2013, on Monday, November 18, 2013, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. You may register and receive details about the webinar here. -- "More uniform reimbursements for skilled nursing facilities and inpatient rehabilitation facilities could be implemented soon, policy analysts recently told the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission." – McKnight's -- "More than 6,000 skilled nursing facilities … [Read more...] about News Alert/SNF News: 11/18 Webinar Rebroadcast
DADS News Alerts: 11/14, 12/5 Meetings
-- REMINDER: Upcoming Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care Centers meetings. The next meeting will be held on Thursday, November 14, 2013. -- HHSC adopted amendments to Chapter 9, Intellectual Disability Services--Medicaid State Operating Agency Responsibilities, Subchapter E, ICF/IID Program—Contracting. -- HHSC proposed to repeal Chapter 16, §§16.1 - 16.4, the Pilot Program to Increase the Use of Advanced Directives in Nursing Facilities and Intermediate Care Facilities for Persons with … [Read more...] about DADS News Alerts: 11/14, 12/5 Meetings
LTC News: Drs. Medicare Payment
-- "The Democratic and Republican leaders of two key congressional committees have agreed on a framework to scrap the problematic Medicare payment formula for physicians and replace it with one that would link physician reimbursement to the quality of care provided, a step that could put an end to the annual "doc fix" debate." - Kaiser -- "A bill in the House of Representatives aims to create a 'trusted provider' status in the Medicare program, which would potentially streamline the … [Read more...] about LTC News: Drs. Medicare Payment
TX Register Updates: Corrections, Dual Eligibles
The following information was obtained from the November 1 issue of the Texas Register. Public Notices A correction to a public notice that appeared in the September 13, 2013, issue regarding the intent to submit a request for an amendment to the MDCP Medicaid waiver: The waiver transfer process, allowing individuals to transfer between waivers when medically necessary for services to continue to ensure health and safety, was previously described in the public notice published in the … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: Corrections, Dual Eligibles
PL/News Alerts: 11/7 Stakeholder and ADC Meetings
DADS released one provider letter. NF: An excerpt from the letter: Recently, it has come to the attention of the Department of Aging and Disability Services that some NFs admitting residents directly from a jail or a correctional facility have continued to have such residents handcuffed or in leg shackles or in both. Such devices are restraints and NFs cannot use them. Despite having been an inmate, a resident that a NF admits from a jail or correctional facility is now a NF resident. The … [Read more...] about PL/News Alerts: 11/7 Stakeholder and ADC Meetings
