Best Practices and Tips for Requesting an LON Increase
( HCS/ICF)
Date: February 27th, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM-3:00PM
Cost: $65
For: Program Managers, Administrators, Case Managers/Care Coordinators, Quality Assurance Staff, Nursing Staff
Presenter: Julie Blacklock
You will receive a confirmation email and handout as well as a link to register with “Gotowebinar” to attend the session, once we receive payment. Please click on your registration link right away to receive reminders for the session!
Description: This class is for persons already familiar with completing the ICAP and having an understanding of levels of needs (LON’s). This class is focused on assisting anyone at your HCS or ICF program, who is responsible for putting together the packet for a request for a LON increase. We will be reviewing a sample ICAP , a sample scoring sheet, as well as other assessments that might indicate a need for an increase. We will also examine other factors such as inappropriate behaviors or an increase in inappropriate behaviors, a decline in abilities, or medical issues that may cause a decline in abilities and/or an increase in inappropriate behaviors. We will also discuss LON increases that are not based on the ICAP alone or at all, such as the LON 6 and a LON 9. During this session, we will also provide samples of LON increase request documents, such as the “LON Increase Request Cover Letter”.
Topics
What Is a LON?
-A review of the definition of LON (Level of Need) in the HCS, TxHmL, and ICF/IID programs
Review of Sample ICAP & Scoring Sheet
-What does the ICAP show us?
-Completing a New ICAP for the LON Increase Request Packet
–Updating the IDRC (Intellectual Disability/Related Condition) form
-When is the IDRC filled out and by whom, and why is this update required?
-How do I get a Level of Need increase?
–Who applies for the Level of Need increase?
-What items need to be in my LON increase request packet?
Additional Items for LON Behavior Increase/Behavior Bump
-Additional Items for LON 9
–Importance of Writing A Cover Letter– Sample Cover Letters
–Utilization Review Department- what is their role? (Monitoring units in CARE and Utilization of services, Approving Levels of Needs, etc…)
Payment:
We would be glad to invoice you if you prefer. Please indicate how you will paying when you register with Meghan Jones.
Option #1:
Requested invoice: We will send you an invoice from Paypal and then you can make a payment directly through the invoice- using a credit card, debit card, Paypal account, or payment by check.
Option #2:
Online Payment: You may pay directly through your PayPal invoice or you may also choose to use our “Quick Pay Button” for this specific event. Click on the button below:
“Quick Pay Button”
Option #3:
You may pay on the Twogether Consulting website. Here is the direct link to the “Payment” page
If you have any problems, please ask Meghan Jones to walk you through it, when you call to register. Please contact us directly about group rates. Remember for this option, you will need to enter in total $ amount for # of attendees. Ex: 2 people want to attend x $125 =$250 total.
Option #4: NEW!
We now take Zelle payments through our Twogether Consulting Zelle account: Please contact Meghan Jones at meghanjones.tx@gmail.com for directions to make payment.
Registration:
To complete registration and for any additional information or to arrange payment by check you must contact:
Meghan Jones at: meghanjones.tx@gmail.com
You may contact Meghan by phone at: (361) 649-5104
Mailing address for checks: Twogether Consulting P.O. Box 90426 Austin, TX 78709
“Webinar”
Review of Important HCS Rules & Regs in TAC Ch 263: Policies & Procedures Your Program May Want To Update
(Title 26 Part I Ch 263)
Presented By Twogether Consulting
Date: March 9th, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM-3:30 PM
Cost: $65/person
For: HCS Provider Applicants, Administrators. Program Managers, Case Managers/Care Coordinators, Nursing Staff, Quality Assurance Staff
Presenters: Julie Blacklock/IDD Waiver Consultant & Sheila Hanson/IDD Waiver Consultant (Current HCS Provider)
You will receive a confirmation email and handout as well as a link to register with “Gotowebinar” to attend the session, once we receive payment. Please click on your registration link right away to receive reminders for the session!
Very Important: To complete registration for this webinar and for any additional information or to arrange payment by check you must contact
Meghan Jones at: meghanjones.tx@gmail.com or (361) 649-5104
Description:
This class is designed for both new and current HCS providers as well as other staff who are a part of providing services or ensuring services are implemented for the individuals in the program (i.e. Program Manager, Quality Assurance Staff, Case Manager/Care Coordinator, and Nurses). This training is appropriate for anyone who will be part of the team that assists with planning and implementing services for the individuals in the HCS programs. Understanding the rules and regulations is very important in being prepared for survey as well as meeting Medicaid Waiver standards for the HCS program.
Twogether Consulting developed this session to not only review the rules and regs. for HCS, that went into effect June 21st, 2023, but also to discuss best practices, policies and procedures you may want to put in place for compliance with these new rules. Some of these were updated rules, others were clarifications, and some are completely new rules.
This is a great session for those providing oversight and quality assurance for these programs as well. This webinar was developed to assist providers in understanding how to develop best practices, policies and procedures for the HCS program. We also wanted to ensure that HCS providers understood how these new rules relate to possible changes or updates in how your facility functions, new roles and responsibilities that you may need to fill as a provider, forms that might need to be revised or added, and more.
Presenters:
Julie Blacklock/IDD Waiver Consultant
Julie Blacklock is the owner of Twogether Consulting. She is a graduate of Southwestern University with a bachelor’s in psychology (specializing in Child Life & Development and Crisis Intervention). She first began her career in mental health during her college years. In 1992, she began working with Austin Travis County MHMR, where her interest in the field of developmental disabilities began. She has been working with both the IDD waiver services and the ICF program ever since. She has been a consultant in the state of Texas (as well as some other states) for over 28 years. She works with providers in the community, as well as LIDDA’s, state agencies, and currently also serves as an expert witness for cases when requested.
Sheila Hanson/HCS Waiver Consultant & Current HCS Provider
Sheila has been the owner of her own HCS program in San Antonio, Texas (Shine On Group Homes LLC) for 15 years. She has also been a consultant for Twogether Consulting for the past 3 years. Sheila brings invaluable experience to the team at Twogether Consulting, as someone who started their own HCS program, with absolutely no help, and had to learn how to navigate the HCS system the hard way. She is “self-taught,” as they say. Sheila was in the hotel management industry for many years prior, and her experience in that industry has served her extremely well, in particular with managing budgeting and financial parts of the HCS program, onboarding new employees as well as employee management overall, and lastly, dealing with change, which is always constant with HCS. Sheila’s “Shine On” HCS waiver program provides a supportive environment for individuals needing specialized care and assistance, focusing on maintaining independence and quality of life. They offer support and personalized care to seniors and individuals with disabilities. They aim to help residents maintain their independence and quality of life in a comfortable setting. Shine On is a family business as both her husband and now her daughter also work for the company, and the individuals are truly an extended part of her own family.
Topics
— Review of Some of The Most Important Sections of TAC Ch. 263
–Update Policies & Procedures
–New Roles & Responsibilities
–Quality Assurance Practices
–Changes In Facility Practices
–Revised Forms Or New Forms Added
–You will also receive sample forms, policy samples and more to assist you with compliance of these rules and regs. noted in this training.
Payment:
We would be glad to invoice you if you prefer. Please indicate how you will pay when you register with Meghan Jones.
Option #1:
Requested invoice: We will send you an invoice from Paypal and then you can make a payment directly through the invoice- using a credit card, debit card, Paypal account, or payment by check.
Option #2:
Online Payment: You may pay directly through your PayPal invoice or you may also choose to use our “Quick Pay Tab” payment button for this specific event. Click on the button below:
“Quick Pay Tab”
Option #3:
You may pay on the Twogether Consulting website. Here is the direct link to the “Payment” page
If you have any problems, please ask Meghan Jones to walk you through it, when you call to register. Please contact us directly about group rates. Remember for this option, you will need to enter in total $ amount for # of attendees. Ex: 2 people want to attend x $125 =$250 total.
Option #4: NEW!
We now take Zelle payments through our Twogether Consulting Zelle account: Please contact Meghan Jones at meghanjones.tx@gmail.com for directions to make payment.
Registration:
To complete registration and for any additional information or to arrange payment by check you must contact:
Meghan Jones at: meghanjones.tx@gmail.com
You may contact Meghan by phone at: (361) 649-5104
Mailing address for checks: Twogether Consulting P.O. Box 90426 Austin, TX 78709