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
Temporary Extension of Medicaid for Certain Intellectual Developmental Disability Waiver Program Recipients
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
Major Health Groups Chime in on Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) Payment System
MACRA now in its first year of implementation in 2017, has established a new framework for physician payment focused on quality and value using two distinct payment paths. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Quality Payment Program (QPP) includes the following pathways: the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and the Alternative Payment Model (APM) Incentive program. MACRA replaced the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula that gave the ability to determine Medicare … [Read more...] about Major Health Groups Chime in on Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) Payment System
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
CMS Launches New Hospice Care Website for Families, Physicians and their Patients.
In a new press release, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) officially announced the opening of their Hospice Compare website. The website which focuses on palliative and end of life care was designed to improve transparency, the consumer experience and empower patients. giving families, patients and the physicians who care for them a reliable resource and "snapshot" of the quality of care a hospice facility provides, as well as information related to health care decisions. The … [Read more...] about CMS Launches New Hospice Care Website for Families, Physicians and their Patients.
When Dying is Profitable. Practice of Hospice patients being discharged before death linked to higher profits for facilities
In the past years, there has been a major increase in for-profit hospices and according to a study published last month in the journal Health Affairs titled: “A Positive Association Between Hospice Profit Margin And The Rate At Which Patients Are Discharged Before Death.” The study was researched from a sample of 1,439 freestanding hospices, as well as for-profit, chain-owned and nonprofit facilities, and their live discharge rates. The report found that live discharge rate rose from 2000 t0 … [Read more...] about When Dying is Profitable. Practice of Hospice patients being discharged before death linked to higher profits for facilities
Status on Pre-Dispute Arbitration Agreement
A coalition of states has joined together to oppose the Administration proposal to end the ban on pre-dispute arbitration agreements used by nursing homes. This band arises from a final rule promulgated in October of 2016. Meanwhile, though the American Health Care Association supports ending the ban, it also opposes other provisions seeking to impose more regulation on the agreements themselves and submitted those in comments to the proposed new rule. … [Read more...] about Status on Pre-Dispute Arbitration Agreement
Why Planning for Long-Term Care Services is A MUST For Aging Individuals
Long-term care services are an important aspect of your health care plans and for that reason, it's important to inform your loved ones and providers about your health care needs for the future. In fact, most adults should plan for long-term and even palliative care as it benefits the candidate when it comes to supportive care in the form of basic living needs such as bathing, dressing, personal care, housekeeping, meal preparations and even medical help. According to news reports, research … [Read more...] about Why Planning for Long-Term Care Services is A MUST For Aging Individuals
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
