DADS released three provider and five information letters:
Licensed ICFs:
Effective immediately, an unlicensed person may adminster medication to a client without the requirement that an RN delegate or oversee each administration if various conditions are met, including if the meds are administered for a stable or predictable condition. (Letter)
ALFs:
SB 7, 82nd Legislature, First Called Session, 2011, amended Section 247.002 of the code and revised the definition of an ALF to authorize an ALF to use its staff to provide skilled nursing services for limited purposes.(Letter)
Licensed ICFs/MR:
Regarding the DADS and Texas Board of Nursing pilot program to evaluate LVNs who provide on-call services by phone, unless an ICF is enrolled in the program, the LVN may not provide on-call services. (Letter)
HCS:
A formal interdisciplinary team is no longer required to plan service delivery in the HCS program. (Letter)
DADS clarified issues related to nursing scope and practice, including medication administration by unlicensed people on-call services provided by an LVN, and RN delegation in the HCS and TxHmL waiver programs. (Letter)
HCS and TxHml waiver and CDS:
Convictions for the offenses added by HB 2609 prohibit employment by any provider or agency subject to Health and Safety Code Chapter 250, effective September 1, 2011. (Letter)
TxHmL:
DADS authorized additional vacancies in the TxHmL program because of refinancing of general revenue funds allocated to local authorities. An excerpt:
Because of the additional program vacancies, DADS anticipates an unusually large number of individuals enrolling in the TxHmL program from now through February 2012. To ease the workload associated with a large number of enrollments, TxHmL program providers may have up to 60 calendar days after the implementation date of the IPC to submit the support methodologies to the service coordinator. Beginning March 1, 2012, TxHmL program providers must resume compliance with the 14 calendar day requirement.
CBA, CLASS, MDCP, PHC, CAS, FC, and CDSAs:
The Electronic Visit Verification pilot will be mandatory for all CDSAs, and CDS employers and employees for the following services:
- personal assistance services and in-home respite services in the Community Based Alternatives program;
- residential habilitation and in-home respite services in the Community Living Assistance and Support Services program;
- in-home respite services and adjunct support services in the Medically Dependent Children Program;
- Primary Home Care program as described in 40 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Section 47.3(20);
- Community Attendant Services as described in Section 47.3(3); and
- Family Care services as described in Section 47.3(11).
