May 30, 2022
COVID-19 Update to Temporary Change for Service Providers of Respite and CFC PAS/HAB
In March 2020, HHSC implemented a temporary policy change for respite and Community First Choice Personal Assistance Services/Habilitation. This change allows service providers of respite and CFC PAS/HAB to live in the same home as the person receiving Home and Community-based Services or Texas Home Living program services.
This change has given access to needed services for people living in their own or family’s home. A person’s spouse or a child or teenager’s parent still cannot be a paid service provider of these services due to guidelines in HCS, TxHmL and CFC handbooks located under Long-term Care Waiver Programs.
This temporary policy change is effective March 27, 2020 through June 30, 2022, unless the COVID-19 public health emergency ends sooner. HHSC will provide guidance if anything changes. Program providers must complete the required background checks for all service providers. They must follow:
- The Texas Administrative Code, Title 40, Part 1, Subchapter D and N.
- HCS and TxHmL Rules, Section 9.177 (n) and (o), and Section 9.579 (r) and (s).
- HCS and TxHmL Billing Guidelines Section 3400 for service provider qualifications.
February 28th, 2022
COVID-19: HHSC Publishes In-Home Day Habilitation Information for Program Providers (IL 2022-15)
HHSC is temporarily waiving certain requirements in Section 3710, 4381.3, 4381.7(6) and 4381.7(7) of the Home and Community-based Services Billing Guidelines and the Texas Home Living Billing Guidelines. This is due to COVID-19 and provides access to needed day habilitation services.
HHSC has published a revision to this guidance in IL 2022-15 In-Home Day Habilitation Information for Program Providers for COVID-19 (PDF). This replaces IL 2022-09.
It extends the temporary guidance through March 31, 2022, unless the COVID public health emergency ends sooner. HHSC will provide guidance if there are any changes.
February 28th, 2022
COVID-19 Update to Temporary Change for Service Providers of Respite and CFC PAS/HAB
HHSC has lifted the ban on service providers of respite and Community First Choice PAS/HAB. They can now live in the same home as the person receiving Home and Community-based Services and Texas Home Living program services.
This gives access to needed services for people living in their own or family’s home. A person’s spouse, child or teenager’s parent still cannot be a paid service provider of these services due to guidelines in HCS, TxHmL and CFC handbooks located under Long-term Care Waiver Programs.
This is a temporary policy change. It is effective March 27, 2020 through March 31, 2022, unless the COVID public health emergency ends sooner. HHSC will provide guidance if anything changes.
Program providers must complete the required background checks for all service providers. They must follow:
- The Texas Administrative Code, Title 40, Part 1, Subchapter D and N
- HCS and TxHmL Rules, Section 9.177 (n) and (o), and Section 9.579 (r) and (s)
- HCS and TxHmL Billing Guidelines Section 3400 for service provider qualifications
FYI- Don’t forget that currently (Due to COVID-19) HHSC has said if you need to add on more CFC PAS/HAB units on the IPC, you are not required to request SC to update the CFC PAS/HAB assessment. The provider needs only complete an IPC revision and IP update.
