Twogether Updates

September 21st, 2021 Updated: COVID-19 Mitigation Rules for TxHmL Providers HHSC Long-term Care Regulation has published revised COVID-19 mitigation rules (PDF) for TxHmL program providers. The rules address changes in response to Executive Order No. GA-38(link is external) regarding facemasks and updated CDC guidance. The rules became effective Sept 19, 2021.   Emergency Rule Adoption for TxHmL and COVID-19 Mitigation See new rule at link below:...

September 6, 2020 HCS Billing Guidelines Revised-Sept. 2020 Please pay special attention to the changes and clarifications for Nursing Services!  We will be reviewing these in our "Billable Services-HCS-2020" webinar on Sept. 21st, 2020.  For more information please contact Meghan Jones to register:  meghanjones.tx@gmail.com   If you attended the recent Billable Nursing Services training in August (Part I and II) we did add these to your handouts at the time of the training.  You have the...

Texas Medicaid Health Portal TMHP is announcing the launching of their newly redesigned website available on September 14, 2020! As TMHP.com receives approximately 2.5 million views per month, it important to have a website that is functional and easy to navigate.  Major improvements have been made to increase the website user experience for providers. Highlights of new improved features include: o   Simplified navigation with program information, topics, and resources are more easily...

Frequently Asked Questions: HCBS Settings Regulation Implementation and Heightened Scrutiny Reviews of Presumptively Institutional Settings: July 2020 Update 1.Question: What is the new deadline for states to assure that all settings are in compliance with the home and community-based services (HCBS) settings criteria? Answer: States have been granted an additional year to demonstrate compliance and should ensure all settings are in full compliance with the HCBS settings criteria by March 17,...

Currently, all "On-site Training" is on hold due to COVID-19.  If you require any of these trainings, please check our calendars on our website for current webinars or contact us at:  info@twogetherconsulting.com for some of our pre-recorded training options. Live Training On-Site (Please contact us if you want us to provide these trainings on-site for your program): HCS/TxHmL: Care Coordination in the HCS Program, Using Person-Centered Thinking To Develop The IP (Implementation Plan), Changes...

Tuesday, June 9, 2020 HHS Announces Enhanced Provider Portal, Relief Fund Payments for Safety Net Hospitals, Medicaid & CHIP Providers Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), is announcing additional distributions from the Provider Relief Fund to eligible Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) providers that participate in state Medicaid and CHIP programs. HHS expects to distribute...

Update on TWC services Provider Manual and Resources  The following revisions to the Vocational Rehabilitation Standards for Providers Manual (VR-SFP) are available for 30-day review on the Vocational Rehabilitation Providers' Resources page and will go into effect on June 29, 2020. Chapter 2: Obtaining a Contract for Goods and Services—updated Section 2.8.1 Adding Counties or Services, Goods, and/or Equipment to a Contract, to indicate that provider contracts awarded after January 2020 will...

Last Friday HHSC posted the following CARE banner:  Due to the 09/01/2019 HCS rate increase, service authorizations are being updated to ensure they are in line with their corresponding IPCs. This will not cause any payment changes. Upon inquiry as to what this meant, Holly Lindsey, UR, HHSC provided the explanation below.  Hopefully the explanation and guidance will be of assistance to you should an action (revision, renewal or transfer) be taken on an IPC which prompts a notice that the IPC...

  No other live training has been scheduled at this time, these sessions are suspended until we hear more about the Covid-19 virus to decide on whether or not these sessions would be advisable at this time.  We will continue with webinars and on-site training, until further notice.       

Behavioral Support Services HCS and TxHmL Behavioral Support Services Provider Policy Training (Has been mandated for HCS & TxHmL providers to ensure their contracted Behavioral Support Services providers to take since March 2015) This course informs service providers of behavioral support services in the HCS and TxHmL programs related to the provision of behavioral support services in those programs.  All new behavior support service providers must complete the WBT before providing...

Seniors have always ignored health promotion activities meant to promote their health. This is because their health status is perfectly normal, and they do not consider themselves at significant risk of falling ill. However as a senior ages; a number of things can happen which can leave the senior injured or sick and possibly needing 24-hour nursing care like the one provided at www.carltonseniorliving.com/ and residencesatplainview.com/community/your-retirement-community/. It is common...