2008/12/03
Conference
Presentations
2008/11/21
Archive:
How
GovBenefits.gov Can Serve You & Your Customers!
An Informal
Report of Findings:
Short
Interviews with Board Members
DARS UPDATE:
A new section of
the DARS Web site has been posted that allows our stakeholders
to see important information about current initiatives, upcoming
meetings and meet the DARS Stakeholder Relations team.
The DARS
Stakeholder Web site is
www.dars.state.tx.us/stakeholders.
Changes in Program Responsibilities, Technical Assistance and
Medicaid Access
The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has had a change
in program responsibilities. The unit known as County Indigent
Health Care Group will now be the Primary Care Unit. The
unit will include County Indigent Health Care, Primary Health
Care and Epilepsy Programs. A position will be posted in
the unit to include Primary Health Care and Epilepsy Program
responsibilities. The intent is to be able to work at the
local level with locally funded programs in one unit.
Also, there is a change in program technical assistance.
Terry Salazar has accepted another position in the department
and will no longer have responsibilities for the County Indigent
Health Care Program. Please continue to submit the Monthly
Financial Reports, Forms 105s to 512/458-7713. The reports
may be addressed to Karen Gray until further notice. The
position Terry is vacating is currently posted for hire.
Also, the department has a position that will serve as a program
liaison. This position will travel statewide and
facilitate communication between indigent entities and the
Primary Care Group in Austin. The position will facilitate
training on the local level, be available for regional and local
meetings.
DSHS and Health and Human Services Commission have developed a
process with the Medicaid contractor to provide counties
eligibility access to Medicaid information. Each
county-run program will be issued a Texas Provider Identifier
and Atypical Provider Identifier and Taxonomy code. The
process will be free, but does require security measures that
are currently in the testing stages. More information will
be forthcoming about the process after the testing period.
If you have further questions you may call the office at
512/458-7706.
Health Care Reform Concept Paper
HHSC submitted a
draft concept paper that outlines the Texas reform plan to the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Dec. 5. The
concept paper represents the first step to get federal approval
for a health care reform plan to provide more people with
insurance, reduce reliance on expensive emergency room visits
for basic care, and make it easier for the working poor to buy
into employer-sponsored health coverage. The cornerstone of the
Texas plan is a Health Opportunity Pool trust fund that will
provide premium subsidies to low-income adults. Read
the draft concept paper
To comment on the draft:
Input and comments on the draft health care reform concept paper
will be considered in the development of the state's
waiver. You may submit comments to
medreform@hhsc.state.tx.us through Dec. 28. Please
provide your comments and identify the corresponding section and
page number when submitting your comments.