Recent News

NOTE: Change in Contracting Procedure for CDS, CLASS, DBMD, Hospice and TAS with the State

By Heather Kennedy Powell posted 10 days ago
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Dear Members,   Effective August 1, 2018, contracting for the following services was moved from HHSC Contracted Community Services to HHSC Medicaid CHIP IDD Waiver Contracts Enrollment: Consumer Directed Services (CDS) - Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) CDS – Deaf Blind with Multiple Disabilities (DBMD) Waiver Services CDS – Primary Home Care (PHC) CLASS/Continued Family Services (CFS) CLASS/Case Management Agency (CMA) CLASS/Support Family Services (SFS) Deaf Blind with Multiple Disabilities (DBMD) Waiver Services Hospice Transportation Assistance Services (TAS) Agencies who wish to contract with Medicaid ...
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A New Care Model for Home Health Agencies

By Becky Campbell posted 11 days ago
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Home Health Agencies can evolve their delivery of high quality care by incorporating technology-based virtual care platforms that drive more satisfaction and better outcomes for all involved. Having a new option for providing clients with timely access to convenient, compassionate, and quality care can help alleviate agencies’ challenges and costs associated with travel to/from home-based clients. This new care model helps the healthcare industry as hospitals are actively exploring how to reduce readmissions and insurance companies are investigating minimizing costs. Benefits include: Improved cost savings. Virtual visits can effectively replace many visits ...
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Advocacy Update - STAR+PLUS Statewide Advisory Committee

By Heather Kennedy Powell posted 14 days ago
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Dear Members,   TAHC&H Regulatory staff will attend the STAR+PLUS Statewide Advisory Committee planning meeting Wednesday, October 10, at Superior Health Plan’s office in Austin. These meetings occur quarterly, and we will provide a summary of the meeting discussion points for you after each. This meeting’s agenda includes a presentation from Karen Cheng on the upcoming legislative session, as well as a discussion of:   the LTSS provider re-enrollment requirement delay until 10/31/18, rendering provider NPI requirement status, the delay in the implementation of LTSS billing unit increment changes, and other topics identified by the committee ...
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Be Aware: Third Party Licensure and Contracting Assistance Not Endorsed by HHSC

By Heather Kennedy Powell posted 14 days ago
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The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has issued notice that a third-party organization is sending informational flyers and other communication to providers offering services to assist in the expedition of HHSC's contracting and licensing processes. The state has asked that providers be aware that this information is not from HHSC, and that  HHSC does not endorse services provided by third party organizations, nor does it ensure the accuracy or impact that those services might have on HHSC contacting and licensing process timelines.    For additional information on state licensing standards, timelines and rules, please visit the Licensing, ...
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Submitting Your Medicare Part A Cost Report Electronically Webcast — October 15

By Marissa Machado posted Sep 20,2018
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Monday, October 15 from 1:30 to 3 pm ET -  Register  for Medicare Learning Network events. Medicare Part A providers: Learn how to use the new Medicare Cost Report e-Filing (MCReF) system. Use MCReF to submit cost reports with fiscal years ending on or after December 31, 2017. You have the option to electronically transmit your cost report through MCReF or mail or hand deliver it to your Medicare Administrative Contractor. You must use MCReF if you choose electronic submission of your cost report. For more information, see the  MCReF  MLN Matters Article and  MCReF  webpage. During this webinar, CMS discusses: Changes based on user feedback ...
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Special Edition MLN -Monday, September 17, 2018 -New Medicare Card Mailing Update

By Marissa Machado posted Sep 19,2018
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New Medicare card mailing update: The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) started mailing new Medicare cards to people with Medicare who live in Wave 6 states: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas , Utah, Washington and Wyoming. We finished mailing cards to people with Medicare who live in Waves 1, 2, 3, and now Wave 4 states and territories . If your Medicare patients say they did not get a card, ask them to: Sign into MyMedicare.gov to see if we mailed their card. If so, they can print an official card. They must create an account if they do not already have one.  Call 1-800-MEDICARE ...
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Member Sought for HHSC Executive Council

By Marissa Machado posted Sep 19,2018
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If you’re interested in health and human services in Texas, you might be interested in being a member of the HHSC Executive Council. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission executive commissioner will appoint a member to the council to serve a term expiring Dec. 31, 2020. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m., Sept. 25, 2018! The council receives public input on proposed rules; recommendations of advisory committees; legislative appropriations request or other document related to the appropriations process; the operation of health and human services programs; and other items the HHSC executive commissioner determines appropriate. The Executive ...
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TAHC&H Goes to Washington

By Becky Campbell posted Sep 17,2018
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TAHC&H Executive Director, Rachel Hammon, TAHC&H Board President Jon Scepanski, TAHC&H Treasurer Dana Madison and members Luke James (Encompass) and Marcylle Combs (Accent Care) headed to Washington DC to advocate for issues of importance to Home Health and Hospice this week.  Dana, Rachel and Luke started the week at the Home Care Council’s Policy Summit where many speakers from CMS, the Medicare Administrative Contractors, Bill Dombi and other industry leaders discussed issues such as the current political landscape, home health market trends, value based purchasing, PDGM, TPE and RCD.  One of the liveliest discussions was around PDGM and RCD.  ...
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Members Sought for HHSC STAR Kids Managed Care Advisory Committee

By Marissa Machado posted Sep 14,2018
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If you’re interested in Health and Human Services in Texas, you might be interested in being a member of the STAR Kids Managed Care Advisory Committee. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission executive commissioner will appoint a member to the committee to serve a term expiring Dec. 31, 2019. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m., Sept. 25. Application Letter (MS Word) Application (MS Word) HHSC will consider the applicants' qualifications, background and interest in serving on the committee. HHSC also tries to choose committee members who, as a whole, represent the diversity of all Texans. For that reason, HHSC considers applicants' ethnicity, ...
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TAHC&H Members host PAC Mixer in San Antonio!

By Avery Thomas posted Jun 11,2018
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We would like to thank Kristen Robison and Pam Goble for taking the initiative to plan and host our first member hosted PAC Fundraiser. The event was on Thursday, June 7th and raised money for both the PAC and the Home Care Defense Fund. Here's what Kristen had to say about the event: "Our first ever TAHCH PAC mixer was a huge success! Myself and Pam Goble hosted the event at Costa Pacifica in San Antonio. We had close to 40 people attend! Those who came enjoyed a nice spread of ceviche, nachos and other great appetizers, as well as happy hour at the bar. We saw lots of familiar faces and met many new people as well. Everyone mingled and had a blast! At the ...
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Recap: Emergency Preparedness Summit

By Katie Mills posted May 24,2018
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Agencies are getting prepared – hurricane season is upon us! The Emergency Preparedness Summit took place on Tuesday at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus in Austin, Texas. Over 130 attendees heard from industry experts on all-things disaster preparedness related.   The first half of the day was filled with a detailed regulatory guidance class including how to apply the state and federal emergency preparedness rules and what surveyors are looking for.  After lunch, attendees welcomed a panel of community partners representing various regional advisory councils as well as the Texas Hospital Preparedness Program State Coordinator for Health Emergency Preparedness ...
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TAHC&H PAC's Dash for CASH

By Avery Thomas posted May 17,2018
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Get ready for TAHC&H PAC's Dash for Cash next week! This two day online fundraiser will be held May 22-23 to raise money for our nonpartisan state and federal Political Action Committee. TAHC&H PAC supports lawmakers on the campaign trail who believe that Texans should have access to quality home care & hospice services! Learn more about the PAC and donate to our cause next week! We appreciate your support! Why Give? A gift to the PAC is an investment in your industry! As association dues cannot go to the PAC, we rely on personal participation from home care professionals like you! Without your support, we can not create the change ...
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Gulf of Mexico Hurricane Season June 1 to November 30 - TAHC&H Wants ALL 6,262 HCSSAs in Texas to be prepared!

By Marissa Machado posted May 08,2018
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This week is National Hurricane Preparedness Week , and Hurricane season officially begins June 1 through November . TAHC&H wants all 6,262 licensed Home and Community Support Service Agencies (HCSSAs) in Texas to be prepared!   According to the most recent Regulatory Services Annual Report for FY 2017 , Texas has 6,262, HCSSAs that provide services to hundreds of thousands consumers each year. The report cites that HCSSAs census counts for 2016 and 2017 totaled 1,245,985 consumers served. Due to the sheer number of consumers served, and not including the staff counts, HCSSAs have an enormous responsibility when it comes being prepared ...
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Spring meetings bring fresh ideas!

By Katie Mills posted Apr 30,2018
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TAHC&H just wrapped up another successful committee, Board of Directors and educational workshops at the Doubletree Hotel in Austin last week. TAHC&H members gathered April 24-25 to collaborate and discuss policy, best practices, future conferences and continue to steer the association as the voice for home care & hospice in Texas.  On Thursday, April 26 – over 200 attendees gathered to attend the Private Pay and CoPs workshops. Highlights of the Private Pay sessions included a highly informative session from both the state and federal levels on wage & hour law. Attendees were able to ask questions to Tommy Simmons from the Texas Workforce Commission ...
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CMS Webpage Update - Protecting Medicare and Medicaid: Report Fraud, Waste, and Abuse

By Marissa Machado posted Apr 30,2018
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Center for Program Integrity (CPI) works with providers, states, and other partners to protect the Medicare and Medicaid programs from fraud, waste, and abuse. CPI recently launched  new webpages  to inform consumers and providers about our efforts to protect patients, while also minimizing unnecessary burden on providers. Take time to visit and see  CPI’s priorities in 2018 focus on investing in data and analytics to support fraud detection and prevention efforts, reducing burdensome documentation requirements for providers, and improving communication and collaboration with all our partners. Visit the  ...
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April 9th, 10:30 AM, STAR Kids MCO/Member/Provider Stakeholder Workgroup - Meeting Reminder and Agenda

By J.R. Top posted Apr 05,2018
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The telephonic STAR Kids MCO/Member/Provider Stakeholder Workgroup meeting being will be held on April 9 at 10:30 AM. A copy of the agenda is available at the following link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/d3yp630f29ou0ob/20180409%20STAR%20Kids%20Workgroup%20agenda.docx?dl=0 Call Information: 877.820.7831 Access Code: 590037 Agenda: 1. HHSC Updates     Topic Lead Today’s Discussion   1.       Member Portal update MCCO     2.       FMSA/MCO meetings TAHP     3.       Eligibility  PES     4.       ...
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TAHC&H Goes to Washington!

By Avery Thomas posted Apr 05,2018
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March on Washington is an annual TAHC&H event and serves as an opportunity to advocate for home care & hospice policy priorities at the federal level in Washington, D.C. Our members, from across Texas, met face to face with federal Representatives about home care & hospice issues. This year the event took place March 19-21st, 2018.   Additionally, a virtual lobby day was organized for those who could not attend in person.   See how TAHC&H works for our industry with this MOW recap!   Check out TAHC&H's 2018 Home Care Priorites   and 2018 Hospice Priorites . March on Washington 2018 A snow covered Washington ...
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Update: April Committee & Board/CoPs Workshop/Private Pay

By Katie Mills posted Mar 29,2018
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Important Hotel Update for April Committees/Conferences: We just received word that the Doubletree Austin Hotel is filling up fast for the upcoming Committee & Board Meeting, CoPs Intensive Workshop and Private Pay Conference, April 24-26. Due to demand, the hotel will not be able to extend the deadline to make reservations so reserve your room today ! Cut off date: Saturday, April 7, 2018.  Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Austin 6505 N Interstate 35 Austin, TX 78752 Group Rate: $159 Cut Off: April 7, 2018 (512) 454-3737 Reserve Online Haven't registered to attend the conferences? These sessions will provide critical ...
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Nationally known speaker scheduled for next month’s Private Pay Conference

By Giovanna Cooke posted Mar 23,2018
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 Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to get information that will help your Private Pay agency in so many ways! We’ll kick off the day with a session on Wage & Hour Law for Private Pay with Tommy Simmons, Legal Counsel for the Commissioner representing employers at the Texas Workforce Commission. As an added bonus, Nicole Sellers, District Director of the Austin Office of the US Dept. of Labor, will be participating in the Q&A portion of this session. Shelle Womble, award-winning Sales Champion with corecubed Aging Care Marketing, will present two lively and dynamic sessions on sales and marketing to help you attract clients and take your ...
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Free HIPAA training offered by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights

By Giovanna Cooke posted Mar 20,2018
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights presents Free HIPAA Training for Small Providers This introductory training will cover the Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules, including: Rights of individuals Administrative requirements Safeguards Minimum necessary Business associate agreements Enforcement updates Risk analysis Risk management This same training will be offered four times at the following locations (click on a link below to RSVP - space is limited!):  Dallas :       Tuesday, May 8, 2018 from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm; Kilgore :     Wednesday, May 9, 2018 from 8:30 ...
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