April 15th, 2026
From Twogether Consulting
Hello Everyone!
This month is National Stress Awareness Month, as well as National Counseling Awareness Month. The focus is on reducing stigma around stress-related illnesses and promoting healthy coping strategies. Something to think about when working with the individuals you serve. Service providers also need to take care of their mental health and reduce stress. Think of ways to help reduce stress in the workplace for your staff, including direct support staff, to help prevent “caregiver burnout”.
Just a few other reminders: Speaking of stress, don’t forget, 2025 tax returns and quarterly estimated tax payments for 2026 are due today.Do not forget that STAIRS historical information for cost reporting will not be available anymore after April 30th, 2026. Please don’t wait til the last minute to download your reports or information for 2025. Remember that cost reports are due in May as well.
In addition, new Rules for ISS are being enforced beginning May 1st, 2026, so the “hold harmless” period ends. HHSC is presenting a webinar on April 30th, 2026, to review the changes.
Register for the April 30th webinar. Please review the following provider letter: PL 2026-05 revised New ISS Rules-TAC Title 26 Part I Ch. 559 came out in Feb., 2026.
The recording from our training webinar “Development of the Comprehensive Nursing Assessment & NSP” and handouts, from April 13th, 2025, is now available for those who missed it. Cost is: $65.
Our next live training is in Austin, Tx April 29th & 30th. If you have any suggestions or questions concerning classes, please email us at info@twogetherconsulting.com. Here are our April training dates so far.
April 2026 Training Coming! (These classes are posted on our calendars on the website: www.twogetherconsulting.com
Webinar: “Nursing Documentation & Billable Services” (HCS/TxHmL) –April 17th, 2026 (1pm-3:30pm)
Live Training: “Admissions & Post Admission Follow-Up: Best Practices” – April 30th & 31st, 2026 Location: Austin, Tx (2 days)
Upcoming classes in May 2026! (to be announced at a later date)
Webinar: “Best Practices For The RN: HCS/TxHmL Admissions”
Webinar: “Updated Policy Requirements For DAHS With ISS Only Providers: May 2026”
Again, I wanted to invite everyone to attend this year’s American Association of Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) Texas Chapter’s Annual Convention. This will be our 50th year of the AAIDD Texas Chapter. This year’s convention is “50 Years of Inclusion: Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Future.” We are planning to have some amazing presenters, including self-advocates as well as breakout sessions for providers, LIDDA’s, and individuals with IDD, and their families. This year’s convention will take place in Corpus Christi at the Omni Hotel, August 18th-21st, 2026, so please save the date. For a recap of last year’s convention, please click on this link:https://www.aaiddtx.org/2025-convention
Please note that AAIDD members receive a discounted registration rate to the annual AAIDD Texas Chapter convention, so if you would like to join AAIDD, please go to https://www.aaiddtx.org/about for more information and to become a member. This year, we will be giving a free raffle ticket to all newly registered AAIDD members who then register to attend this year’s AAIDD Texas Chapter convention.. You will receive your ticket at the registration table at the convention, August 18th-21st. The raffle ticket is good for a free entry into our “New Membership Raffle” for the drawing to win a prize worth over $200-a Yeti cooler! We will be announcing the prize when registration information for the convention is sent out and posted on the AAIDD Texas Chapter website. We will also be holding a separate raffle for “Current Members” to win 2 fantastic Yeti tumbler cups!
For anyone interested in registration or vendor info, please contact Pat Holder at: patholder@austin.rr.com. Registration and vendor information should be available by the end of April, as well as general topics for breakout sessions and keynote speakers. Stay tuned, and you may also check the website at: https://www.aaiddtx.org/
Note: Our hourly off-site consultation fee has increased to $90/hr. We do offer discounted rates for current clients. We have updated the website concerning this rate change. Feel free to contact us at info@twogetherconsulting.com to request an appointment for consultation, or you can email our administrative assistant, Meghan Jones, to make an appointment at: meghanjones.tx@gmail.com
Please continue to check our website for webinars and live trainings. We will post them on the website “calendar” page
We have a variety of pre-recorded webinar trainings for program managers (HCS), administrators (ICF & ISS), case managers, QIDPs, nurses, and direct care, so feel free to email us at info@twogetherconsulting.com to inquire. Let us know what areas of training you would like, to help us plan future sessions.
Here are just a few of the recent pre-recorded webinar trainings available for purchase: “Admission, Post-Admission & Other Follow-Up Requirements-HCS Program”, ICAPs/LON’s/IDRC’s-ICF Program” (Also have for HCS program), “Development of The Comprehensive Nursing Assessment & Nursing Service Plan-HCS or ICF”, “Best Practices For HCS Providers: How To Remain In Compliance With TAC Ch 565”, “Role & Responsbilities of The Q”, “Surrogate Decision Making Process, Rights Restrictions & Immediate Jeopardy-ICF Program”, “Licensed ISS Providers: What You Really Need To Know.”,
We also have a pre-recorded 5-part Care Coordination/Case Management series, a 4-part Nursing series for HCS, and a 3-part Nursing series for ICF available. These trainings are epecially important for new providers. All these sessions come with handouts as well as the link to the pre-recorded session
Please contact Meghan Jones at: meghanjones.tx@gmail.com. Most of these pre-recorded sessions run $65-$75/person. We can provide the handouts as well as a link to the recording, once you have paid. Please notify Meghan Jones, for payment and to receive the link to registration for the training on “Gotowebinar” and handouts for the session.
Please see our “Updates” section of the website for the latest news for IDD providers.
