The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has opened bidding for new statewide Medicaid and CHIP dental contracts and asked prospective contractors to explain how they will improve access to care and reduce administrative burdens for participating dentists. Released October … Read More
TDMR received this story from Dr. Hector Alvarez in Eagle Pass earlier this month. We found it informative and inspiring in his and his family’s dedication to helping the underserved and needy in his county. It speaks to the quality … Read More
Almost three hundred seniors and patients with disabilities were stranded mid-treatment plan in Laredo thanks to a change in dental insurance providers in July of this year. Since 2017, Dr. Amin Abdul of the Asclepius Dental Center of Laredo has … Read More
A Texas federal judge’s ruling Friday invalidating the Affordable Care Act could create political headaches for Medicaid expansion supporters in states that are moving to implement or maintain expansion. https://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20181218/NEWS/181219901
The State Medicaid Managed Care Advisory Committee of HHSC is holding a public meeting in Austin on December 12. Here is the information: December 12, 2018 – 1:00pm Health and Human Services Commission, Brown-Heatly Building, Public Hearing Room 4900 North … Read More
We’ve heard from various dentists that they have questions about controversial issues that have come up over the last several months. So we assume there are more out there that have the same questions or heard the same rumors. Primarily … Read More
UPDATE: TDMR has received a copy of the ImmediaDent and Samson Partners press statement from Samson Partners vice-president of marketing Stephen Valenti. It is at the bottom of our story in full. Indiana-based ImmediaDent and DSO Samson Dental Partners of … Read More
Reported in a shocking report released this week, the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health found that the Ohio Department of Medicaid made $90.5 million in capitation payments to managed care organizations in the state on … Read More
UPDATE: Christine Mann, the Press Officer at HHSC, has informed us that new RFP is out as of yesterday. The information is below and is available at http://www.txsmartbuy.com/sp/HHS0002879 Medicaid CHIP Dental Status: Addendum Posted Solicitation ID: HHS0002879 Response Due Date: 11/30/2018 Response Due Time: 2:00 PM Agency … Read More
Back in August, a notice appeared on the TMHP website that Texas Medicaid was going to impose a lifetime limit for restorations and stainless steel crowns on September 1. Lifetime limits The notice said: Effective for dates of service on or … Read More
In the last edition of TDA Today, the Texas Dental Association goes to bat for dental Medicaid providers on two issues. First, the publication reported that the TDA’s Council on Public Health and Access to Care met with HHSC (HHSC, … Read More
TDMR recently reached out to Rep. Richard Peña Raymond, chair of the House Human Services Committee to get his views on the current scene and the future of dental Medicaid in Texas. Supporter of dental Medicaid Raymond has been a major force … Read More
Medicaid dental providers apparently want an online forum to securely discuss mutual problems with Texas Medicaid and DMOs. Some 92% of those taking our survey answered a resounding “yes” to having such a forum. Comments Here are some of the … Read More
Since our recent stories about the new dental RFP for Medicaid and DentaQuest’s capitation payment move, TDMR has received several emails from dental providers about their concerns over the RFP choices and provider lack of power against such large companies. … Read More
An industry insider has told TDMR that he thinks six dental management companies will vie for the Texas Medicaid dental contract RFP that closes in September. He named the two current contractors, MCNA and DentaQuest, and included Liberty Dental and … Read More
Rendering of new HHS Building It is finally here, not with a bang but with a sigh. It’s been out over a week and not a whisper about it until today despite the fantastic anticipation by dental Medicaid providers over … Read More
By Marissa Evans June 27, 2018 Linda Badawo says she doesn’t know if managed care works or not — but it hasn’t worked for her family. Sitting with her son D’ashon beside her in his wheelchair, Badawo told legislators during … Read More
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 … Read More
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 … Read More
AUSTIN – As lawmakers on Capitol Hill continue to discuss the future of the CHIP program, Texas is set to receive $135 million from the federal government to keep benefits in place thru February. CHIP, which stands for Children’s Health Insurance Program, … Read More
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 … Read More
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 … Read More
In New Jersey, the police have an odd enforcement tactic against drunken driving. Cops often list in newspapers the specific areas where there will be DWI checkpoints. Why? I don’t know. Anyone planning to get boozed up and behind the … Read More
If there is one thing I have learned most certainly in my career working to raise quality and lower cost of health care, it is that people don’t stop getting sick or injured just because they don’t have insurance. For … Read More
According to a story in today’s Texas Tribune, a large number of experienced executive staff of Texas Health and Human Services have exited the mega-agency due to conflicts with current Executive Commissioner Charles Smith. So far, these include, according to the … Read More
State and county authorities descended on a Laredo adult day care Wednesday morning as the patrons calmly played loteria inside the main hall. The Texas Attorney General’s Office and Webb County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office executed a search warrant at … Read More
July 17, 2017 — MCNA Dental has signed a contract with the Arkansas Department of Human Services to serve as a dental benefits manager for the state’s Medicaid program and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. The contract takes effect in January 2018. MCNA … Read More
Texas policymakers are once again demonstrating their contempt for reproductive health care, the health care providers who offer those services, and the women who rely on them. The state has spent years crippling a once-successful program supporting family planning and … Read More
Texas nursing homes beware: The state’s tolerance for mistakes is dropping fast. In September, a new state law takes effect that will make it more difficult for long-term care facilities cited for repeat violations to avoid hefty fines from regulators. … Read More
More than four years after accusing Southwest Counseling Center of overbilling the state by $2.8 million in Medicaid reimbursements, the New Mexico Human Services Department has settled with the former Las Cruces behavioral health provider for a sliver of that … Read More
WHITE PLAINS – A registered nurse from Yonkers was arrested and indicted Monday for allegedly submitting more than $390,000 in claims for services to two severely disabled patients that he did not provide. Attorney General Eric Schneiderman says over the course … Read More
Texas rejected billions in federal aid to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, calling the program “broken.” But now it’s asking the Trump administration to renew a deal that’s brought the state an additional $6.2 billion a year under … Read More
A Guysville woman pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court to health-care fraud and willful failure to pay over-tax, according to a news release from the office of Benjamin C. Glassman, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. Cheryl … Read More
The day after the Senate’s draft health bill was released, supporters looked to defend a key component of the bill: cuts to Medicaid. Republican lawmakers will need to answer to its beneficiaries, who’ve grown dependent on this program for coverage. … Read More
