Long-Term Care Regulatory Provider Letter - PL 18-05 Policy Update Re; Life Safety Code for Assisted Living Facility Senate Bill 1049, 85th Legislature, 2017 added §247.0264 to Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 247. This code affirms the role of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) in the interpretation and enforcement of accessibility standards in assisted living facilities. Effective since September 1, 2017, a Health and Human Services (HHSC) inspector may not cite … [Read more...] about Accessibility Standards in Assisted Living Facilities
Amended Nursing Peer Review Committee (NPRC) Requirements and a State Agency’s Duty to Report
PL 18-06 - Long-Term Care Regulatory Provider Letter (PL) The Texas Health and Human Services Commission released the provider letter to nursing providers (ALF, DAHS, HCSSA, ICF/IID, and Nursing Facilities) the letter details that House Bill (HB) 3296, 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, amended Texas Occupations Code §303.0015, regarding the establishment of a NPRC. Additionally, this letter clarifies the process a surveyor from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) … [Read more...] about Amended Nursing Peer Review Committee (NPRC) Requirements and a State Agency’s Duty to Report
New Requirements for Rehabilitative Services and Nursing Facility Specialized Services
PL 18-01 (NF) -Last September 10, 2017, the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) added new rules and amended and deleted rules in Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Title 40, Part 1, Chapter 19, Nursing Facility Requirements for Licensure and Medicaid Certification. The Provider letter describes new requirements related to rehabilitative services and nursing facility (NF) specialized services and the provider responsibilities that arise from the new rules. Among many new rules and for … [Read more...] about New Requirements for Rehabilitative Services and Nursing Facility Specialized Services
Proposed Amendments to streamline ICF/IID & HCS/TxHmL Provider Cost Report Rules
HHSC Report- Effective January 1st 2018, information contained in PPAT on cost report rule changes to be adopted by March 2018, address the implementation of a cost report reform initiative for HCS/TxHmL and ICF/IID providers as required by Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)On Jan. 1st, HHSC requires only even-year cost reports beginning with the providers’ 2018 fiscal year cost reports for HCS/TxHmL (§355.722(a) and ICF/IID(§355.105(c)(1) )providers. HHSC also proposes … [Read more...] about Proposed Amendments to streamline ICF/IID & HCS/TxHmL Provider Cost Report Rules
CMS Finalizes Policies that Reduce Provider Burden, Lower Prescription Prices
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule this month for the 2018 Physician Fee Schedule and final rule with comment period for the Quality Payment Program (QPP). According to a news release by CMS, Seema Verma, Administrator of CMS explained that:“These rules move the agency in a new direction and begin to ease that burden by strengthening the patient-doctor relationship, empowering patients to realize the value of their care over volume of tests, and … [Read more...] about CMS Finalizes Policies that Reduce Provider Burden, Lower Prescription Prices
Requesting Durable Medical Equipment and Customized Manual Wheelchairs through the Preadmission Screening and Resident Review Program
Information Letter No. 17-22The purpose of this letter is to notify nursing facility (NF) providers of the requirements for requesting durable medical equipment (DME) and customized manual wheelchairs (CMWC) through the Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) program.In accordance with Title 40, Part 1, Texas Administrative Code §19.2754(a), relating to Requesting Authorization to Provide Durable Medical Equipment and Customized Manual Wheelchairs, when a NF identifies a PASRR … [Read more...] about Requesting Durable Medical Equipment and Customized Manual Wheelchairs through the Preadmission Screening and Resident Review Program
HHSC Requires Providers to Immediately Redo all Nurse Aide Registry Status Searches
Provider Letter No. 17-24 All Providers who used the Nurse Aide Registry(NAR) from June 14, 2017, through August 3, 2017 are now required by HHSC to recheck the status searches due to an error by contractor Pearson Vue which placed ineligible nurse aides on “Active” status and mailed these ineligible individuals an invalid certificate. This error also caused 50 inaccurate event-based emails to be sent to 19 individual candidates. If a search result now shows that a nurse aide is not in … [Read more...] about HHSC Requires Providers to Immediately Redo all Nurse Aide Registry Status Searches
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
