Texas Dentists for Medicaid Reform

Charles Smith Retires, Cecile Young Takes Over As Another HHS Executive Commissioner Hit By Contracting Woes

June 13, 2018

In case anyone missed it, Charles Smith, the Executive Commissioner of Texas Health and Human Services retired at the end of May. The continuing saga of poor contracting practices at the state agency enraged legislators and Gov. Abbott. As the Texas Tribune reported: "In recent weeks and months, the commission has endured scandal over how multi-million dollar contracts are managed. State auditors, legislators and Abbott have criticized Smith’s agency over how it continues to muck up contracts even after years of work to make the onboarding and management process more efficient. Last month was … [Read More...]

A Texas health commission employee was fired. Then she received the private information of more than 100 clients.

April 26, 2018

Tracy Ryans pulls out client applications containing private information that was mistakenly sent to her from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, on April 24, 2018. Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune. By Marissa Evans, The Texas Tribune April 25, 2018 Tracy Ryans got mail — straight from the Texas Health and Human Services … [Read More...]

Texas Medicaid Dental Maintenance Organization Annual Survey 2018

April 20, 2018

UPDATE: April 20: NEW SURVEY IS OPEN After reviewing the responses from the previous version of the survey, we closed it because there was a large amount of doubt about the veracity of some of the answers provided. The largest indicator was that 46% of those claiming they were Medicaid dentists did NOT want to see any more dental management … [Read More...]

Texas Health Official Resigns Amid Contracting Errors

April 18, 2018

Heather Griffith Peterson has resigned from her job as chief operating officer for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Texas Health and Human Services Yoiks, here we are again.By Marissa Evans, The Texas Tribune April 18, 2018 The state official who oversees information technology and contracting at the Texas Health and Human … [Read More...]

State auditor finds more contracting errors made by health agencies

April 17, 2018

Charles Smith of the Texas Department of Health and Human Services testifies Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017, to the House Committees on Human Services and Public Health at the Capitol. Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune. Texas HHS still hasn't learned its lesson about contracting, from before Jack Stick and 21CT until today. Three people have already … [Read More...]

DMO Request for Proposals Coming?

March 22, 2018

TDMR has been asked several times recently if we have any knowledge of an upcoming RFP (request for proposals) for dental management organizations. There have been rumors flying around for well over a year now that Texas Health and Human Services would be putting out such an RFP at some point. Back in the day, late 2016, we even talked with … [Read More...]

The United States Dental Association Is Forming!

February 22, 2018

TDMR has been asked to inform its readers that a new association of dentists is in the process of being formed. The new association is to be called the United States Dental Association. Among the founding members of the new organization are Drs. Juan Villarreal and Robert Anderton. Dr. Villarreal is the founder of TDMR, author of "Truth Decay" … [Read More...]

Texas Dentists Misled by Xerox/TMHP on Orthodontic Prior Authorizations: Deposition

February 7, 2018

Yes, we know it is 2018. Sorry. But the truth about the late great Texas Medicaid orthodontic debacle (2007 to 2011) has been not fully been made public yet. So here is some more truth for those who were involved in this horrendous boondoggle. There is more to come. Dentists voiced concerns many times It appears what TDMR has been saying … [Read More...]

Bye-bye Xerox, Hello Fuji

February 2, 2018

Two days ago, the iconic and troubled American corporation Xerox was sold to Japan's Fujifilm for $6.3 billion dollars, ending its solo history in this country. Losing money, under pressure The new company will be known as Fuji Xerox and, per Reuters, "become a subsidiary of Fujifilm, with … [Read More...]

“Truth Decay” One Year Later

January 29, 2018

In January of last year, Dr. Juan Villarreal's long-awaited book "Truth Decay: How Government Corruption Caused a Political Scandal Victimizing Texas Dentists and How It Could Happen to You!" was released on Amazon.com. "Truth Decay" details Dr. Villarreal's personal struggles and victories … [Read More...]

Legislation Aimed at the Root Causes of Medicare and Medicaid Fraud

January 18, 2018

Recently the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General issued a report A-17-17-52000- U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MET MANY REQUIREMENTS OF THE IMPROPER PAYMENTS INFORMATION ACT OF 2002 BUT DID NOT FULLY COMPLY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016. In the report, OIG recommends that … [Read More...]

UPDATED: RESOLVED – Christmas Might be Bad News for 400,000 Texas Children Losing CHIP

December 20, 2017

UPDATED: The federal government has come through with temporary funding for Texas. It won't be a bad Christmas after all. There hasn't been much big news regarding Texas Medicaid recently, but here is a doozy. The Dallas Morning News reminded Texans this morning that unless their government … [Read More...]

UPDATED: Say What? Medicaid Rates Change January 1, HHS Invites Providers to Comment January 11

December 15, 2017

UPDATE: After conferring with colleagues, this is not the major reimbursement changes that were discussed earlier this year but an annual update of codes with minor changes. Hope you are having a nice Friday afternoon, the Friday before the Christmas weekend. Notice on January 11 public … [Read More...]

UPDATED: Xerox Goes After Dentists to the Texas Supreme Court

December 8, 2017

UPDATE: Arguments in this case were heard by the Supreme Court on Wednesday, December 6. The 39-minute video of the oral arguments is here. The court's decision is not expected until spring of next year. As a heads up for dentists across the state, it appears there is a long shot possibility that … [Read More...]

Reimbursement Rates, MCOs Still Main Issues for Texas Medicaid Providers

December 7, 2017

TDMR is releasing the results of its 2017 Medicaid Provider survey today. Not much has changed Not much has apparently changed for Medicaid providers from 2016. per the 337 individuals who answered our anonymous, 6 question survey in October and November. Roughly comprised of 28% dental, 20% … [Read More...]

Equifax and the Small Health Care Provider

October 25, 2017

By TDMR President Gregory Ewing On September 7, 2017, Equifax, one of the nation’s three credit-reporting companies reported that it had discovered a cybersecurity breach that compromised the personal information of as many as 143 million Americans, roughly half of the population of the United … [Read More...]

Almost 400,000 Texans’ insurance at risk after Congress fails to renew CHIP

October 5, 2017

Insurance coverage for more than 390,000 Texas children and pregnant women is in jeopardy after Congress failed to renew authorization for a federal program. Congressional authorization for the Children's Health Insurance Program, which provides low-cost health insurance for children from low- … [Read More...]