http://garloward.com Wed, 14 May 2008 18:20:07 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) has released four information letters and one provider letter: Initial HCSSA Administrator Training Approval In a seven-page letter to Home and Community Support Services Agencies (HCSSAs), DADS described the initial process for becoming a DADS-approved provider of HCSSA training for administrators and ... http://garloward.com/2008/05/14/dads-approved-provider-of-hcssa-training/ The following information was obtained from the May 2 issue of the Texas Register: Open Meetings The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will hold a series public hearings on May 19, 20, and 23 concerning Medicaid reimbursement rates for various providers. For times and locations, please follow this link and ... http://garloward.com/2008/05/09/medicaid-reimbursement-rates-etc/ The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) released three new information letters: Helpful Nursing Facility Provider Information for the TILEs to RUGs Transition DADS informed Nursing Facility and Hospice Providers about the September 1, 2008, transition from the Texas Index for Level of Effort (TILE) to the federal Resource ... http://garloward.com/2008/05/08/tile-to-rug-transitions-living-options/ Lawmakers on Capitol Hill continue to debate and discuss Medicare issues. This week, the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee held a hearing to discuss the competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment. (Kaiser Network) Durable equipment includes prosthetics, orthotics, and other tools, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services ... http://garloward.com/2008/05/07/medicare-durable-equipment-hearing-on-the-hill/ President Bush is expected to sign into law the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) passed last week by Congress. The new law, which has been debated in Congress for 13 years, adds to current federal anti-discrimination laws (including Title VII) prohibitions on employers and insurance companies using genetic tests ... http://garloward.com/2008/05/05/introducing-gina%e2%80%a6-new-genetic-information-nondiscrimination-act-of-2008/ The Bush administration has agreed to a moratorium on two of seven proposed Medicaid rules, which include limiting Medicaid reimbursements to hospitals and nursing homes run by state and local governments, so lawmakers can discuss and agree to changes. (Medical News Today) As you may recall, the administration proposed to limit ... http://garloward.com/2008/05/01/bush-agrees-to-medicaid-rules-moratorium/ The following information was obtained from the April 25 issue of the Texas Register: Adopted Rules The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) adopted amendments to §§19.208, 19.214, and 19.2112, in Chapter 19, Nursing Facility Requirements for Licensure and Medicaid Certification, which will update terminology and state agency names and correct ... http://garloward.com/2008/04/30/texas-register-updates-nursing-facilities-and-nurses-aides/ The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) released a provider and information letter, and announced joint training sessions: Family Council Provisions in Senate Bill (SB) 131, 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007 (Replaces PL 08-03) DADS informed Nursing Facilities that the DADS Council has approved proposed rules for implementation of the ... http://garloward.com/2008/04/29/family-council-provisions-joint-training-sessions/ The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) has released two provider and two information letters: Guidelines for Reporting Incidents (replaces PL 1999-34) In a provider letter, DADS notified ICFs/MR about changes in the guidelines for reporting incidents to DADS, effective immediately. The revised guidelines supersede guidelines dated October 1, 1999, ... http://garloward.com/2008/04/25/reporting-incidents-guidelines/ The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new rule that would reduce funding for inpatient rehabilitation facilities in fiscal year 2009. According to CQ Health Beat (via Kaiser Network), the $20 million reduction, required by Congress, would prevent a cut to Medicare physicians payments. The same legislation ... http://garloward.com/2008/04/23/inpatient-rehabilitation-facilities/