Here are the latest statistics just released by HHSC. Children Enrolled in Medicaid, CHIP and CHIP Perinatal Programs by Month Month Children Enrolled in Medicaid¹ Children Enrolled in CHIP² Children Enrolled in CHIP Perinatal Coverage Total Children Enrolled Sep-13 2,511,311 … Read More
Despite strong opposition to the federal Affordable Care Act by Gov. Rick Perry and other state leaders, Texas has still received nearly $100 million in grants through the law. And as U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz campaigns to defund Obamacare, the majority of the grants — … Read More
This past week State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) Judge Roy G. Scudday ruled that Christine Ellis and her qui tam lawyers had no standing to appear in a hearing regarding an HHSC-Office of Inspector General payment hold placed on … Read More
Ever wonder why Medicaid and Medicare rates are so low or why there was a Frew lawsuit? What about the future for reimbursement rates for Medicaid or Medicare health care providers in Texas? No need to wonder. Here’s your answer. … Read More
On August 27, I talked with U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Lewisville, state Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, and Kyle Janek, executive commissioner of Texas Health and Human Services, about where the state goes next on health care. To see the video interview, follow … Read More
South Texas Dental, which operates family dental centers in Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio, has acquired the 12 offices of the All Smiles general dentistry practice in North Texas. Financial terms of the transaction were not released. Three … Read More
Some members of Congress are alarmed by our latest investigative report on Dr. Tariq Mahmood’s hospitals. The story, published Sunday, showed that regulators gave the six Texas hospitals nearly $18 million in economic stimulus funds for switching to electronic medical records … Read More
State lawmakers approved a wide range of measures in the 83rd legislative session that will affect Texans’ medical care. Use this interactive to take a look at 31 ways those laws will change Texas health policy. Full story click below. … Read More
Gov. Rick Perry’s office is disputing reports that the state is negotiating with the federal government to draw down $100 million in additional financing under a rule created by the Affordable Care Act. Politico reported on Tuesday that Texas is taking advantage of … Read More
By calling for a program that encourages the reuse of equipment like wheelchairs and hospital beds that were bought with Medicaid dollars, legislators hope that they are creating a new way for the state to save money. Senate Bill 1175, … Read More
A former investigator for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission was sentenced to federal prison for theft violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales on Friday, Aug. 9. Melva Darlene Blakemore, 62, of … Read More
San Antonio defense attorney Michael McCrum has been appointed to investigate a complaint alleging that Gov. Rick Perryabused his power and violated state law when he threatened to cut funding for the state’s Public Integrity Unit unless the district attorney who … Read More
AUSTIN — A San Antonio senior judge confirmed Thursday that he will appoint a special prosecutor to investigate possible charges of abuse of office and coercion against Gov. Rick Perry. Judge Robert “Bert” Richardson said he expected to select someone … Read More
Texas on Thursday received almost $11 million in federal grants to fund organizations designated to spread the word about the new Health Insurance Marketplace, which begins enrollment Oct. 1 — only 46 days away. That’s about $2.7 million more than the state expected to … Read More
DLA Piper has announced that Karen Nelson has joined the firm’s national healthcare enforcement and compliance practice as of-counsel in the Austin office. 15 August 2013 Previously, Nelson served as deputy inspector-general and chief counsel for the Texas Health and … Read More
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ trip to Austin this week to promote the Medicaid expansion and the federal government’s apparent willingness to negotiate with Texas on the terms of it under the Affordable Care Act met with sharp … Read More
Click on the link for the story: Abbott Detours Around Government Shutdown Idea | The Texas Tribune.
Click on the link to get the story. Sebelius: We’re Open to “Uniquely Texan” Approach | The Texas Tribune.
Kathy Walt Returns to Team Perry | The Texas Tribune.
State Awaiting Feds' OK to Boost Medicaid Payments | The Texas Tribune.
Karen Nelson is no longer with the Office of Inspector General. The former Deputy Inspector General for the HHSC-OIG is now working for the Austin office of the DLA Piper law firm. Nelson apparently left OIG last month. One can … Read More
Hearing Transcripts Now Available for Download Antoine Dental Clinic vs. HHSC-OIG – Vol. 1 Antoine Dental Clinic vs. HHSC-OIG – Vol. 2 Antoine Dental Center v. THHSC, OIG – Vol. 3 Antoine Dental Center v. THHSC, OIG – Vol. 4 … Read More
The Texas Tribune published today an article outlining the coming changes to the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners as a result of House Bill 3201 that was passed by the legislature and signed by the governor. The legislation will … Read More
The following is information on upcoming court hearings that are vitally important to this whole dental Medicaid provider issue. On August 13 at 9:00 a.m., an HHSC Appeals Judge will hear M&M Orthodontics of San Antonio’s Plea to the Jurisdiction. … Read More
Last week, Antoine Dental Centers of Houston and Harlingen Family Dentistry of Harlingen brought a motion before the Travis County District Court to unseal the massive Christine Ellis qui tam suit filing that in redacted form appears to have 46 … Read More
TDMR has learned that Harlingen Family Dentistry has filed a lawsuit against HHSC and the OIG challenging their authority to impose a payment hold on Medicaid providers for a simple program violation. The case, styled Harlingen Family Dentistry, P.C. vs. … Read More
As was reported in the media, on June 25th, 2012, Texas orthodontist Christine Ellis filed a qui tam suit against dental chain All Smiles with the Dallas firm of Waters and Kraus acting on her behalf. Ellis has been one of the … Read More
Before the end of the legislative session, TDMR posted an online survey, asking dental Medicaid providers their opinions about a number of important questions. What are the biggest challenges Medicaid providers face today? In your opinion, what is a Medicaid … Read More
TDMR has learned that Jason Ray, attorney at the Austin law firm of Riggs, Aleshire & Ray, P.C., recently negotiated a full settlement of an OIG complaint and payment hold against a dentist in the Dallas area. The dentist, who … Read More
On Friday, June 14th, without fanfare, Gov. Rick Perry signed Senate Bill 1803 into law. The legislation will take effect September 1st. This is a tremendous victory for all Medicaid providers in Texas as it provides for legislated due process … Read More
On May 29th, lawyers for Harlingen Family Dentistry and the Texas HHSC-OIG appeared in Travis County District Court before The Honorable Judge Amy Clark Meachum. As outlined in a previous article “Harlingen Family Dentistry Seeks Court Order for Return of … Read More
In a press release this past week, Harlingen Family Dentistry, the practice of Dr. Juan Villarreal in Harlingen, Tx, announced that through Austin attorney Jason Ray, it has filed a motion for a writ of mandamus in Travis County District … Read More
TDMR has responded in the McAllen Monitor to a piece reprinted there from the Texas Tribune from April 25th “Legislators Seek Action on Medicaid Fraud Measures.” TDMR Director of Communications Chuck Young penned an opinion piece regarding problems in the … Read More
On May 16th, SB 1803 (CSSB 1803) came before the Texas House of Representatives for third reading. Rep. Kolkhorst and Rep. Guerra added amendments and made comments about the necessity of putting in legislation due process rights for all Medicaid … Read More
This morning, the Texas House of Representatives passed CSSB 1803 with a vote of 119 to 20 in favor. This is a great victory for Medicaid providers as it for the first time outlines in legislation due process rights. The … Read More
Texas Dentists for Medicaid Reform questions why Texas taxpayers will pay up to $500 an hour to Dallas law firm Waters & Kraus when legislators have already approved monies for OIG staff expansion; a trend if applied to all cases … Read More
The bill that was to enshrine due process rights for Medicaid providers now heads for a House vote and bears less resemblance to the bill that entered the House. SB 1803, now CSSB 1803, while having many good points remaining, … Read More
Since public testimony on Tuesday, the House Human Services Committee voted on a committee substitute for SB 1803, adding a number of clarifications and additions to the bill, and passed it 6-0, with three members not in attendance. The bill … Read More
Public testimony on SB 1803 was held on Tuesday, April 30th, before the House Human Services Committee. The House sponsor of the bill was no less that the chair of the House Public Health Committee Lois Kolkhorst. Again a number … Read More
AUSTIN, (April 30th, 2013) — Medicaid providers will speak out today in favor of Senate Bill 1803 before the Human Services Committee of the Texas House of Representatives. The bill provides for more thorough vetting of fraud claims by the … Read More
