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
(CMS) requires that Medicare-certified home health agencies (HHAs) meet the Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoPs)
Provider Letter 17-35 DADS released the latest Provider Letter 17-35 – Determination of Separate Entities which replaces PL 01-46 & PL 02-05 for Medicare Certified Home and Community Support Service Agencies. The letter details that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requires that Medicare-certified home health agencies (HHAs) meet the Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for all clients being served by the agency, regardless of a client’s payment source. The … [Read more...] about (CMS) requires that Medicare-certified home health agencies (HHAs) meet the Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoPs)
Participant Surveys in the DBMD Program Receiving Licensed Assisted Living
Information Letter No. 17-24 DADS has published its latest information letter directed to Deaf Blind with Multiple Disabilities (DBMD) Program Providers. The letter outlines the Texas Health and Human Services Commission requirements for the DBMD program providers to perform certain activities related to participant surveys in the DBMD Program and to complete a provider survey. HHSC will schedule face-to-face visits with these people to survey them about the services they receive and their … [Read more...] about Participant Surveys in the DBMD Program Receiving Licensed Assisted Living
Health Care Providers See Millennials as Key to Nursing Shortage
Shortage of Nurses and nursing providers have increased as more of the population retires. Millennials, who fall between the birth years of 1982 to 2000 are the top age group that is becoming the largest group in the in-home care workforce. According to a new study published in the October edition of Health Affairs an average millennial is now 186% more likely to become a registered nurse (RN) compared to baby boomers who's generation are the ones most typically in the highest leadership … [Read more...] about Health Care Providers See Millennials as Key to Nursing Shortage
Nursing Home Disaster Preparation Under Scrutiny, Evaluated by Senators
The Hurricane Ima weather disaster claimed the lives of nine nursing home residents in Florida who died as a result of lack of A/C due to power outages and non-working backup generators. In Texas, Hurricane Harvey brought attention to the fact that an El Paso, Texas, nursing home had no plan for how to bring wheelchair-dependent people down flights of stairs, while many others had to wade through waist-deep floodwaters to exit the facilities. As a result of these disturbing occurrences, … [Read more...] about Nursing Home Disaster Preparation Under Scrutiny, Evaluated by Senators
Telemedicine Rules Released To Affect 28 million patients in Texas
Healthcare providers in the State of Texas will have to review the new Telemedicine Rules released this month by the Texas Medical Board. The new rules are reported to eliminate a few obstacles doctors faced in utilizing telemedicine to treat patients and mark the final barriers in a years-long battle to loosen restrictive telehealth rules in the Texas. According to reports, the proposed rules eliminate the provisions that a "patient site telepresenter" must be available for patients being … [Read more...] about Telemedicine Rules Released To Affect 28 million patients in Texas
CMS, HHS Roll out Emergency Efforts Help Texas and Louisiana with Hurricane Harvey Recovery
According to reports Hurricane Harvey 25 dumped trillions of gallons of water which required evacuation of thousands of residents from over 95 nursing centers and assisted living communities in Texas. A public health emergencies has been declared in both Texas and Louisana and healthcare providers are temporarily waiving or modifying certain Medicare, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) requirements to provide immediate relief to hurricane Harvey’s victims in flood devastated … [Read more...] about CMS, HHS Roll out Emergency Efforts Help Texas and Louisiana with Hurricane Harvey Recovery
Alert: All Providers Are Required To Redo Employee Misconduct Registry (EMR) Searches
Provider Letter No. 17-23 - DADS is directing providers to immediately redo all EMR searches conducted during this two-month period ( From June 9, 2017, through July 27, 2017) to verify the employability of any individuals they have hired. If a search result now shows that an individual is listed in the EMR, then the individual is not eligible to continue employment in a DADS-regulated facility or agency or any facility or agency governed by Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 253. Every … [Read more...] about Alert: All Providers Are Required To Redo Employee Misconduct Registry (EMR) Searches
Fiscal Year 2017 Cutoff Dates for Fee-for-Service Year-end Closeout Processing
Information Letter No. 17-17This is a reminder that, with the fiscal year change, any claims for services performed in fiscal year 2015 (September 1, 2014 to August 31, 2015) that TMHP receives after Noon, Tuesday, August 8, 2017, will become miscellaneous claims and cannot be paid through the standard Claims Management System payment process. Fiscal Year 2015 Miscellaneous Fee-for-Service (FFS) Claims Cutoff:Noon, Tuesday, August 8, 2017Fiscal Year 2017 FFS Claims Processing Cutoff: Noon, … [Read more...] about Fiscal Year 2017 Cutoff Dates for Fee-for-Service Year-end Closeout Processing
Updated Preferred Provider Arrangement for All Managed Care Organizations
MCO Preferred Provider Memorandum In the latest memo update for all managed care organization starting in Fiscal year 2018, HSS is providing Guidance on Preferred Provider Arrangements and Network Access Requirements. The Medicaid and CHIP managed care contracts, including the Uniform Managed Care Contract (UMCC), will require that managed care organizations (MCOs) continue to transition provider payment methodologies from volume based payment approaches to quality-based alternative payment … [Read more...] about Updated Preferred Provider Arrangement for All Managed Care Organizations
