Revision 15-1; Effective December 11, 2015

 

 

The Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) will from time to time retire Information Letters (ILs) when policy has expired, retired or been replaced with new information.

Content in this handbook and the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) supersedes any previous ILs or similar guidance published by DADS. The ILs retired as a result are listed below. DADS recommends that providers remove these ILs from their records to ensure they reference the most current information. Any letters or program guidance issued prior to Internet accessibility is null and void, including policy previously sent by U.S. mail.

Number	Title	Date Posted	Date Removed
09-155	Personal Care Services (PCS) and Home and Community-based Services (HCS) or Texas Home Living (TxHmL) Program Services Replaced by IL 2015-71	12/14/2009	11/03/2015
09-153	Personal Care Services (PCS) and Waiver Services Replaced by IL 2015-71	10/30/2009	11/03/2015

View the Approved Diagnostic Codes for Persons with Related Conditions List at:

Approved Diagnostic Codes for Persons with Related Conditions (PDF)

Revision 19-2; Effective June 5, 2019

 

1. Requirement to Train Staff Members, Service Providers, and Volunteers

As required by program rule, a Texas Home Living Program provider must ensure their staff members, service providers and volunteers are:

1. trained on:
   • acts that constitute abuse, neglect and exploitation;
   • signs and symptoms of abuse, neglect and exploitation; and
   • methods to prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation; and
2. knowledgeable of:
   • acts that constitute abuse, neglect and exploitation;
   • signs and symptoms of abuse, neglect and exploitation; and
   • methods to prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation; and
3. instructed to report to Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) immediately, but not later than one hour, after having knowledge or suspicion that an individual has been, or is being, abused, neglected or exploited by:
   • calling the DFPS Abuse Hotline toll-free telephone number, 1-800-647-7418; or
   • using the DFPS Abuse Hotline website; and
4. provided with these instructions described in paragraph c of this section, in writing.

 

2. Optional Computer-Based Training and Competency Test

A TxHmL Program provider has the option of having their staff members, service providers and volunteers complete HHSC’s ANE Competency Training. The completion of the computer-based training by employees, agents, and subcontractors meets the requirement in Section 1a of this appendix.

If staff members, service providers and volunteers complete HHSC’s ANE Competency Final Test, they must receive a score of at least 80 percent.

The completion of the competency test by staff members, service providers and volunteers meets the requirement in Section 1b of this appendix.

Staff members, service providers and volunteers must first sign up on the Learning Portal to have access to HHSC approved trainings, including this ANE training, entitled ANE Competency Training and Exam (online). The ANE training is found in Medicaid Long Term Services and Supports Training under the Health and Human Services Commission Courses tab.

Link to the Learning Portal homepage: https://learningportal.hhs.texas.gov/

 

3. Documentation Requirements

Program providers must maintain records documenting staff members, service providers, and volunteers have received training on ANE. If using HHSC’s ANE Competency Training as evidence of ANE training, the TxHmL Program provider must maintain a copy of the certificate generated from the HHSC’s ANE Competency Final Test for each staff member, service provider and volunteer. The program provider must maintain training records in accordance with 40 TAC §49.307 Record Retention and Disposition.

Revision 19-3; Effective November 25, 2019 

 

Value-added services (VAS) are extra benefits offered by managed care organizations (MCOs) beyond the Medicaid-covered services. VAS may include routine dental, vision, podiatry, and health and wellness services. VAS may be actual health care services, benefits or positive incentives that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission determines will promote healthy lifestyles and improve health outcomes among members. Each MCO offers a different set of VAS and the MCO can change the VAS it offers once per fiscal year beginning September 1.
 
MCOs must cover all benefits in Medicaid managed care programs, such as STAR+PLUS, STAR Kids and STAR Health. The MCOs utilize VAS as an incentive to assist the member in making the best plan choice. In addition, members may use VAS to help choose which MCO has the added benefits best suited for their needs. 

VAS are not considered non-waiver resources and therefore, waiver program providers do not consider VAS offered by the MCO when considering third-party resources. VAS is an added benefit available to individuals from the MCO providing their acute care services.

Revision Notice 20-2; Effective October 12, 2020

 

The following change(s) were made:

Section	Title	Change
Appendix IX	Care for Minors	Deletes appendix.

Revision Notice 20-1; Effective January 23, 2020

 

The following change(s) were made:

Section	Title	Change
Appendix XI	Care for Minors	Adds an appendix explaining care for minors.

Revision Notice 19-3; Effective November 25, 2019

 

The following change(s) were made:

Section	Title	Change
Appendix X	Value-added Services	Adds an appendix explaining value-added services.

Revision Notice 19-2; Effective June 5, 2019

 

The following change(s) were made:

Section	Title	Change
Appendix IX	Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Training and Competency Test	Adds a new appendix requiring training for TxHmL staff members, service providers and volunteers.