The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) reminded Community Services Providers and Nursing Facilities to use only the January 2007 version of the Long Term Care Form 1290. The form was updated to include the National Provider Identifier.

For more information, download the June 26 letter here.

Additionally, DADS informed Home and Community-based Services and Texas Home Living Providers about a change in the investigation of abuse, neglect, and exploitation when the Administrator/Chief Executive Officer is the alleged perpetrator. The Department of Family and Protective Services made the change. You may download the June 15 letter here.

The Austin American Statesman is reporting that thousands of Texans are waiting for licenses and license renewals from the Department of State Health Services. The agency suffered a flood from a broken pipe in one of its offices.

Two weeks after a burst pipe caused flooding that shut down a state health department building in Austin, thousands of people and businesses across Texas are waiting for licenses and permits. It’s affecting professionals from mold assessors to massage therapists and businesses from tanning salons to tattoo parlors.

Those waiting say the delay is causing confusion or, worse, throwing their career plans off track. They say they can’t get through by phone, the department’s e-mail response time is slow and that the Web site contains little information to help them.

A spokesman for the Department of State Health Services could not say how large the backlog is. But spokesman Doug McBride did say that the department processes applications for about 500 people and 100 facilities each day, so potentially 6,000 applications could be stuck. The department isn’t processing any applications now, he said.

According to the Agency’s website, licenses will not relapse. Also, the agency is sending letters out to some:

McBride said the department last week started sending letters that current licenseholders can use to prove their license has been extended.

They are also sending letters that new applicants can use to show they’ve met the requirements for certification or licensure, he said.

McBride said about 100 letters have been sent to people who have “an urgent need to get their license.”

But those letters have reached just a fraction of the people waiting.

The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) released a series of information letters last week:

• Adopted New Rate for MDCP Camp Providers — The newly adopted rate ceiling for Medically Dependent Children Program Camp Providers is $7.14/hour. For more information, download the letter here.
• CLASS Individual Service Plan and Billing Processes: Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) — DADS responded to provider questions about the Individual Service Plan process. Download the four-page letter here.
• Integrated Care Management (ICM) Program - Service Coordination — DADS informed Primary Home Care and Day Activity and Health Services Providers of its intention to implement the Integrated Care Management program “in the near future.” For background on the program, download the letter here.

The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) responded to questions about Home and Community Support Services Agencies (HCSSAs) not providing services to certain individuals because of concerns about meeting the person’s needs in the community.

The letter is addressed to HCSSAs that contract with DADS to provide 1915(c) Medicaid Waiver Services through Community Based Alternatives, Consolidated Waiver Program, Deaf-Blind With Multiple Disabilities, and Community Living Assistance and Support Services Direct Service Agencies. For more information, download the 10-page letter (dated June 20) here.

In a memorandum dated June 18, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) informed providers about the aging in place waiver process.

Type A and Type assisted living facilities may retain inappropriately placed residents by submitting DADS Form 1124, providing a written statement from the resident or responsible party that resident would like to remain in the facility, and a written assessment from the doctor. The memo also contains information about the evacuation waiver process. You may downlaod the memo here.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a decision to delay implementation of a proposed rule to reduce Medicaid reimbursements to pharmacies for generic prescription drugs for six months. (Kaiser Network)

According to Kaiser, the rule also would require drug companies to “offer Medicaid the lowest price offered to any purchaser — which includes any “rebates, discounts or other price concessions” offered to PBMs or mail-order pharmacies.”

Like many such government regulations, the proposed rule would disproportionately affect pharmacies in low-income areas. The National Community Pharmacists Association believes the rule would cause smaller pharmacies to opt out of Medicaid participation.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has adopted an amendment to §355.8063, which revises the Medicaid reimbursement methodology for freestanding psychiatric inpatient hospitals. According to HHSC, it didn’t receive comments about the proposed rule during the comment period.

Additionally, HHSC adopted the repeal of §§357.481 - 357.490, Formal Appeals. The agency anticipates that the repealed rules will be replaced by a new Subchapter I, §§357.481 - 357.498, Hearings Under the Administrative Procedure Act. HHSC received no comments during the comment period. For more information, see the relevant section of the June 15 Texas Register.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has announced the repeal of §§79.101 - 79.105, 79.201 - 79.210, and 79.301 - 79.305, in Chapter 79, Legal Services, which eliminated obsolete rules governing the now-abolished Texas Department of Human Services and the Board of Human Services.

HHSC also announced the repeal of §§100.5, 100.7, 100.24, 100.35, and 100.301 - 100.308, in Chapter 100, Miscellaneous. This repeal was adopted to delete obsolete rules governing the now-abolished Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (TDMHMR), the Texas Department on Aging, the TDMHMR Board, and the Texas Board on Aging.

For more information about both repeals, see the relevant section of the June 15 Texas Register.

This week, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) released three provider letters.

The first letter to community services providers, dated June 11, concerns Evercare’s notice sent to potential long term services and supports providers concerning liability insurance requirements.

Evercare faxed information about its contracting and credentialing requirements concerning liability insurance. These requirements reflect DADS’s requirements; in that regard, providers won’t have to obtain additional liability insurance coverage to contract with Evercare. For more information, download the letter here.

In the second letter (June 12), DADS informed home health care agencies (HHA) seeking Medicare certification that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has ordered DADS to stop scheduling initial Medicare certification surveys of HHAs until further notice. For more information, download the six-page letter and attachment.

DADS issued a similar letter (June 12) to hospices. You may download it here.

The Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) is asking providers to spread the word about changes in the delivery of personal care services (PCS).

Effective September 1, 2007, Medicaid clients under 21 who need assistance with daily living or other activities because of physical, cognitive, or behavioral limitations related to their disability may be eligible for PCS through the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

Medicaid clients over 21 will still receive personal attendant services through the Primacy Care program at DADS. For more information, download the alert here.