TDA Representatives to Meet with HHS on Medicaid Dental Cutbacks
From the Texas Dental Association: As a part of ongoing efforts to prevent potentially devastating “rebalancing” of Medicaid dental fees, the Texas Dental Association (TDA) will meet with Health and Human Services officials in the coming weeks to discuss each of the codes individually and make recommendations about appropriate fee adjustments for each code. The recommendations will balance the state’s budgetary concerns with creating a dental rate reimbursement methodology that represents the most logical and best use of state funds to improve dental access for Medicaid children. TDA’s advocacy efforts on behalf of its Medicaid participating dentists was instrumental in securing this meeting prior to Tuesday’s rate hearing and last Wednesday's Health and Human Services Committee … Read More...
Texas Dental Association Strongly Opposes Medicaid Dental Rate Adjustments
TDMR has received a statement from the Texas Dental Association about its position on the proposed upcoming cuts to dental reimbursement rates for Medicaid providers. Statement from TDA President Dr. Joey Cazares The Texas Dental Association (TDA) already voiced strong opposition to the proposed Medicaid dental fee adjustments and the TDA’s Committee on Access, Medicaid & CHIP continues to … [Read More...]
The Truth Finally Comes Out…
The Statesman published a landmark article this morning by reporter Eric Dexheimer regarding the great Texas orthodontic debacle. Story finally pieced together Thanks to the state's fraud suit against Xerox, its former Medicaid claims administrator summarily terminated back in early 2014, new information has come out and the sordid story has finally been pieced together on how the Texas … [Read More...]
Medicaid Dental Rates to be “Slashed”
TDMR has received a copy of an email from the Texas Academy of Pediatric Dentistry asking members to contact Texas Health and Human Services over a proposed decrease in Medicaid dental rates. They warn in the email that "many very critically important codes are being slashed." Public hearing on Tuesday, August 8 in Austin Next Tuesday, August 8 in Austin, HHS is holding a public meeting … [Read More...]
Some Problems with New Dental Anesthesia Requirements Surface
A dentist recently contacted TDMR with a problem that his practice, a group practice, has come across with the new requirements for placing Medicaid children under general anesthesia. Difficulty with multiple dentists doing treatment He wrote: The new general anesthesia requirements are nearly impossible for a group practice with multiple dentists doing exams and different doctors doing … [Read More...]
HHSC Inspector General Office Finds Former Inspector General Doug Wilson’s Wife in Conflict of Interest
In a blast from the past, former Health and Human Services Inspector General Doug Wilson and his wife are in the news again. Resigned on Friday Frianita Wilson resigned last Friday from Child Protective Services after her husband's former agency concluded that she had been involved in a conflict of interest over contracts she managed with a non-profit that had hired her husband. The … [Read More...]
Texas Has Spent Over 50,000 Lawyer Hours So Far on Xerox Case
Back in October 2015, TDMR filed an open records request with the Office of the Attorney General seeking to find out how much legal manpower had been used to pursue questionable Medicaid cases against … Read More...
TDMR Founder Awarded SBA 2017 Entrepreneurial Success Award
On Tuesday, May 2, Dr. Juan D. Villarreal D.D.S. was honored by the U.S. Small Business Administration Lower Rio Grande Valley District at a luncheon celebrating Small Business Week. He was … Read More...
Texas Health Steps Dental Therapeutic Services Stakeholder comments and HHSC responses
From Texas Health and Human Services: The 14-day comment period for the Texas Health Steps Dental Therapeutic Services policy ended March 28, 2017. HHSC solicited and received comments on proposed … Read More...
Texas HHS Inspector General Stuart Bowen Resigns
The Texas Monthly has reported that Health and Human Services Inspector General Stuart W. Bowen Jr. resigned last night. He was asked to resign by Gov. Greg Abbott because he had hidden the fact … Read More...
HHS Inspector General Website Survey
The Inspector General wants your feedback on our website, https://oig.hhsc.texas.gov/. Please take our quick, 7 question survey and let us know how you use our site, what you like about it, and what … Read More...
Smith Confirmed as Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner
The Texas Senate confirmed Charles Smith's appointment on April 19 as the Health Human Services executive commissioner for a two-year term at the head of the state's largest agency. Smith, a … Read More...
Credentialing for Medicaid Providers to Become Faster?
Last week, the Texas Association of Health Plans (TAHP) announced that it was working with the Texas Medical Association (TMA) to speed up credentialing for Medicaid providers by selecting Aperture, … Read More...
