Source: https://hhs.texas.gov/laws-regulations/handbooks/hcsbg/section-4000-specific-requirements-service-components-based-billable-activity
Timestamp: 2018-11-20 18:08:51
Document Index: 371959843

Matched Legal Cases: ['§5', '§161', '§161', '§161', '§161', '§161', '§1401']

Section 4000, Specific Requirements for Service Components Based on Billable Activity | Texas Health and Human Services
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4100 Reserved for Future Use
4200 Professional Therapies
4210 General Description of Service Component
The professional therapies service component consists of the following subcomponents:
Audiology Services – The provision of audiology as defined in Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 401;
Behavioral Support Services – Specialized interventions that assist an individual in increasing adaptive behaviors and replacing or modifying maladaptive or socially unacceptable behaviors that prevent or interfere with the individual's inclusion in the community;
Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy – Assists an individual in learning or relearning cognitive skills that have been lost or altered as a result of damage to brain cells or brain chemistry in order to enable the individual to compensate for lost cognitive functions; and includes reinforcing, strengthening or reestablishing previously learned patterns of behavior, or establishing new patterns of cognitive activity or compensatory mechanisms for impaired neurological systems.
Dietary Services – The provision of nutrition services as defined in Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 701;
Occupational Therapy Services – The practice of occupational therapy as described in Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 454;
Physical Therapy Services – The provision of physical therapy as defined in Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 453;
Social Work Services – The practice of social work as defined in Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 505; and
Speech and Language Pathology Services – The provision of speech-language pathology as defined in Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 401.
4220 Billable Activity
The only billable activities for the professional therapies service component are:
interacting face-to-face or by video conference or speaking by telephone with an individual, based on the professional therapies subcomponent provided, to conduct assessments or provide services within the scope of the service provider's practice;
interacting face-to-face or by video conference or speaking by telephone with a person regarding a professional therapies subcomponent provided to an individual, but not with:
a staff person who is not a service provider; or
a service provider of any nursing service component (registered nursing, licensed vocational nursing, specialized registered nursing or specialized licensed vocational nursing) or professional therapies;
writing an individualized treatment plan for an individual's professional therapies that, for behavioral support services, is a behavior support plan;
reviewing documents, except for a written narrative or written summary of a service component as described in Section 3820, Written Service Log and Written Summary Log, to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of an individual's professional therapies;
training the following persons on how to provide professional therapies treatment, including how to document the provision of treatment:
a service provider of host home/companion care, residential support, supervised living, Community First Choice Personal Assistance Services/Habilitation (CFC PAS/HAB), transportation as a supported home living activity, day habilitation, respite, supported employment or employment assistance; or
a person other than a service provider who is involved in serving an individual;
reviewing documents in preparation for the training described in the bullet above;
participating in a service planning team meeting;
participating in the development of an implementation plan;
participating in the development of an IPC;
for behavioral support services, in addition to the activities listed above:
assessing the targeted behavior so a behavior support plan may be developed;
training of and consulting with an individual, family member or other persons involved in the individual's care regarding the implementation of the behavior support plan;
modifying, as necessary, the behavior support plan based on the monitoring and evaluation of the plan's effectiveness; and
educating an individual, family members or other persons involved in the individual's care about the techniques to use in assisting the individual to control maladaptive or socially unacceptable behaviors exhibited by the individual;
for cognitive rehabilitation services, in addition to the activities listed above, provide and monitor the provision of cognitive rehabilitation therapy to the individual in accordance with the plan of care developed by a qualified professional following a neurobehavioral or neuropsychological assessment.
4230 Activity Not Billable
Activities in Section 3300
The activities listed in Section 3300, Activity Not Billable, are not billable for the professional therapies service component.
Activities Not Listed in Section 4220
Any activity not described in Section 4220, Billable Activity, is not billable for the professional therapies service component.
The following are examples of activities that are not billable for the professional therapies service component:
providing services outside the scope of the service provider's practice;
providing services that are performed by a service coordinator or were performed by a former case manager;
transporting an individual;
traveling or waiting to provide a professional therapies subcomponent;
training or interacting about general topics unrelated to a specific individual, such as principles of behavior management, or general use and maintenance of an adaptive aid or equipment;
creating written documentation as described in Section 4260; Written Documentation;
reviewing a written narrative or written summary of a service component as described in Section 3820, Written Service Log and Written Summary Log; and
a service provider of any nursing service component (registered nursing, licensed vocational nursing, specialized registered nursing or specialized licensed vocational nursing) or professional therapies, if not during a service planning team meeting or during the development of an IPC or an implementation plan.
4240 Qualified Service Provider
In addition to meeting the requirements in Section 3400, Qualified Service Provider, a qualified service provider of the professional therapies subcomponents must be as follows:
for audiology services, an audiologist licensed in accordance with Chapter 401 of the Texas Occupations Code;
for behavioral support services:
a psychologist licensed in accordance with Chapter 501 of the Texas Occupations Code;
a provisional license holder licensed in accordance with Chapter 501 of the Texas Occupations Code;
a psychological associate licensed in accordance with Chapter 501 of the Texas Occupations Code;
a licensed clinical social worker in accordance with Chapter 505 of the Texas Occupations Code;
a licensed professional counselor in accordance with Chapter 503 of the Texas Occupations Code;
a person certified by DADS as described in 40 TAC §5.161; or
a behavior analyst certified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc.;
for cognitive rehabilitation therapy:
a psychologist licensed in accordance with Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 501;
a speech-language pathologist licensed in accordance with Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 401; or
an occupational therapist licensed in accordance with Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 454.
for dietary services, a licensed dietitian licensed in accordance with Chapter 701 of the Texas Occupations Code;
for occupational therapy services, an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant licensed in accordance with Chapter 454 of the Texas Occupations Code;
for physical therapy services, a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant licensed in accordance with Chapter 453 of the Texas Occupations Code;
for social work services, a social worker licensed in accordance with Chapter 505 of the Texas Occupations Code; and
for speech and language pathology services, a speech-language pathologist or licensed assistant in speech-language pathology licensed in accordance with Chapter 401 of the Texas Occupations Code.
4250 Unit of Service
A unit of service for the professional therapies service component is 15 minutes.
Fraction of a Unit of Service
A service claim for professional therapies may not include a fraction of a unit of service.
Service time is calculated in accordance with Section 3610, 15-Minute Unit of Service (see No. 2), including when multiple persons are being served.
4260 Written Documentation
Except as provided in Section 4270, Insurance Co-payment and Deductible (see No. 1, Item c and No. 2, Item c), a program provider must have written documentation to support a service claim for professional therapies that:
meets the requirements set forth in Section 3800, Written Documentation;
includes the exact time the service event began and the exact time the service event ended documented by the service provider making the written service log; and
for any activity performed by multiple service providers at the same time for the same individual, includes a written justification in the individual's implementation plan for the use of multiple service providers.
4270 Insurance Co-payment and Deductible
Number of Units on Service Claim
If a program provider is aware that an individual is covered by an insurance policy that requires a co-payment for a professional therapies subcomponent, and the policyholder requests to be reimbursed for the co-payment and provides the documentation described in the first, second and third bullets of Item c below to the program provider, the program provider must submit a service claim for the professional therapies subcomponent for the lesser of the maximum number of units of service for which payment by the HCS Program will not exceed the amount of the co-payment paid by the policyholder.
An individual receives four units of service (one hour) of physical therapy and the insurance policy covering the individual requires a $20 co-payment, for which the policyholder requests to be reimbursed. If the HCS Program pays $17.50 per unit of service of physical therapy, the program provider must submit a service claim for one unit of service of physical therapy (the maximum number of units of service for which payment will not exceed the amount of the co-payment).
Program Provider Must Pay Policyholder Amount of Service Claim
A program provider that submits a service claim to obtain reimbursement for a co-payment must pay the policyholder the amount the program provider receives as payment for the service claim.
Example: Using the facts given in the example above, the program provider must pay the policyholder $17.50.
A program provider must have written documentation to support a service claim submitted to obtain reimbursement for a co-payment made for a professional therapies subcomponent. The written documentation must include:
a copy of the insurance policy specifying the amount that must be paid by the policyholder as a co-payment;
a receipt that verifies payment of the co-payment by the policyholder;
an explanation of benefits (EOB) regarding the professional therapies subcomponent provided to the individual from the insurance company that issued the policy, showing that co-payments were required of the policyholder; and
proof that the policyholder was paid the service claim amount by the program provider.
If a program provider is aware that an individual is covered by an insurance policy that requires a deductible for a professional therapies subcomponent, and the policyholder requests to be reimbursed for the deductible and provides the documentation described in the first, second and third bullets of Item c below to the program provider, the program provider must submit a service claim for the professional therapies subcomponent for the maximum number of units of service for which payment by the HCS Program will not exceed the amount of the deductible paid by the policyholder for the professional therapies subcomponent.
An individual receives four units of service (one hour) of physical therapy services. The policyholder pays $100 for the services, which is applied toward a deductible, and requests to be reimbursed. If the HCS Program pays $17.50 per unit of service of physical therapy, the program provider must submit a service claim for the number of units of service the individual received, or four units of service of physical therapy.
A program provider that submits a service claim to obtain reimbursement for payment made toward a deductible for a professional therapies subcomponent must pay the policyholder the amount the program provider receives as payment for the service claim.
Example: Using the facts given in the example above, the program provider must pay the policyholder $70 ($17.50 X 4 units of service).
A program provider must have written documentation to support a service claim to obtain reimbursement for a payment made toward a deductible for a professional therapies subcomponent. The written documentation must include:
a copy of the insurance policy specifying the amount that must be paid by the policyholder as a deductible;
an EOB regarding the professional therapies subcomponent provided to the individual from the insurance company that issued the policy, showing payments toward the deductible were required of the policyholder; and
proof of payment that verifies the policyholder was paid the service claim amount by the program provider.
4300 Day Habilitation
4310 General Description of Service Component
The day habilitation service component is the provision of assistance to an individual that is necessary for the individual to acquire skills to reside, integrate and participate successfully in the community.
4320 Requirements of Setting
Day habilitation may be provided to an individual only in a setting that is not the residence of the individual, unless the provision of day habilitation in a residence is justified because of the individual's medical condition or behavioral issues or because the individual is of retirement age, and such justification is documented in the individual's record.
4330 Billable Activity
The only billable activities for the day habilitation service component are:
interacting face-to-face with an individual to assist the individual in achieving objectives to:
acquire, retain or improve self-help skills, socialization skills or adaptive skills that are necessary to for the individual to successfully reside, integrate and participate in the community; and
reinforce a skill taught in school or professional therapies;
transporting an individual between settings at which day habilitation is provided to the individual;
assisting an individual with his or her personal care activities if the individual cannot perform such activities without assistance;
participating in the development of an implementation plan; and
participating in the development of an IPC.
4340 Activity Not Billable
The activities listed in Section 3300, Activity Not Billable, are not billable for the day habilitation service component.
Activities Not Listed in Section 4330
Any activity not described in Section 4330, Billable Activity, is not billable for the day habilitation service component.
Meeting Vocational Production Goal Not Billable Activity
Assisting an individual for the sole purpose of meeting a vocational production goal is an example of an activity that is not billable for the day habilitation service component.
4350 Restrictions Regarding Submission of Claims for Day Habilitation
A program provider may not submit a service claim for:
day habilitation for a day that the individual refuses to participate in day habilitation activities unless the individual has refused to participate for 45 calendar days or less since the beginning of the preceding three-month period or since the implementation plan was amended to address the individual’s refusal (whichever is later) and:
the service provider of day habilitation has made repeated attempts to engage the individual in the activity throughout the day; and
those attempts have been documented;
day habilitation provided to assist an individual in achieving objectives not documented in the individual's implementation plan;
day habilitation provided to an individual in excess of five units of service per calendar week;
day habilitation provided to an individual in excess of 260 units of service per IPC year;
day habilitation provided to an individual that is funded by a source other than the HCS Program (for example, the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services);
day habilitation that is being provided by one service provider who is also the same service provider of a different service component or subcomponent to the same individual, at the same time, as referenced in Section 3710, One Service Provider; or
day habilitation in the individual’s residence without prior justification in the Person-Directed Plan (PDP) and Implementation Plan (IP) and prior authorization by the Individual Plan of Care (IPC), as referenced in Section 4320, Requirements of Setting, and Section 3210, General Requirements, Bullets 1 and 2.
4360 Qualified Service Provider
In addition to meeting the requirements in Section 3400, Qualified Service Provider, a qualified service provider of the day habilitation service component must have one of the following:
a high school equivalency certificate issued in accordance with the law of the issuing state; or
a successfully completed written competency-based assessment demonstrating the ability to provide day habilitation and the ability to document the provision of day habilitation in accordance with Section 3800, Written Documentation, and Section 4380, Written Documentation; and
written personal references which evidence the service provider's ability to provide a safe and healthy environment for the individual from at least three persons who are not relatives of the service provider (Appendix II, Degree of Consanguinity or Affinity, explains who is considered a relative for purposes of these billing guidelines).
4370 Unit of Service
A unit of service for the day habilitation service component is one day.
Service Claim for Unit of Service
One-quarter Unit of Service
A program provider may submit a service claim for day habilitation for one-quarter (0.25) unit of service if the program provider provides at least one and one-quarter hours of consecutive day habilitation on a calendar day.
One-half Unit of Service
A program provider may submit a service claim for day habilitation for one-half (0.5) unit of service if the program provider provides at least two and one-half hours of day habilitation on a calendar day. Two of the two and one-half hours must be consecutive.
Three-quarters Unit of Service
A program provider may submit a service claim for day habilitation for three-quarters (.75) unit of service if the program provider provides at least three and three-quarter hours of day habilitation on a calendar day. Two of the three and three-quarter hours must be consecutive.
One Unit of Service
A program provider may submit a service claim for day habilitation for one unit of service if the program provider provides at least five hours of day habilitation on a calendar day. Two of the five hours must be consecutive.
4380 Written Documentation
A program provider must have written documentation to support a service claim for day habilitation that:
includes a description of the location of the day habilitation site;
includes, for each calendar day, the exact time the day habilitation began and the exact time it ended documented by a staff person who is present at the day habilitation site during those times;
a written service log, as described in Section 3820, Written Service Log and Written Summary Log, of the calendar day for which the service claim is submitted; or
a written summary log as described in Section 3820; and
includes a description in the individual's implementation plan of objectives the program provider is assisting the individual to achieve, as described in the first bullet of Section 4330, Billable Activity.
4400 Registered Nursing
4410 General Description of Service Component
The registered nursing service component is the provision of professional nursing, as defined in Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 301 (link is external), provided to an individual with a medical need.
4420 Billable Activity
The only billable activities for the registered nursing service component are:
interacting face-to-face with an individual who has a medical need for registered nursing, including:
preparing and administering medication or treatment ordered by a physician, podiatrist or dentist;
assisting or observing administration of medication; and
assessing the individual's health status, including conducting a focused assessment or an RN nursing assessment;
speaking by telephone with an individual who has a medical need for registered nursing, including assessing the individual's health status;
interacting by video conference with an individual who has a medical need for registered nursing, including:
observing administration of medication; and
at the time an individual receives medication from a pharmacy, ensuring the accuracy of:
the type and amount of medication;
the dosage instructions; and
checking medications at the time they are received from the pharmacy for matching labels with the doctor’s order and medication administration record sheet (MARS) for correct type and amount of medication, or additional times when there are documented medication errors or labs that show the individual’s therapeutic levels are abnormal;
researching medical information for an individual who has a medical need for registered nursing, including:
reviewing documents, except for a written service log or written summary log of a service component as described in Section 3820, Written Service Log and Written Summary Log, to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of the medical treatment the individual is receiving; and
completing an RN nursing assessment;
training the following persons how to perform nursing tasks:
interacting face-to-face or by video conference or speaking by telephone with a person regarding the health status of an individual, but not with:
a service provider of:
licensed vocational nursing unless supervised by the registered nurse;
specialized licensed vocational nursing unless supervised by the registered nurse; or
professional therapies;
interacting face-to-face or speaking by telephone with a pharmacist or representative of a health insurance provider, including the Social Security Administration, about an individual's insurance benefits for medication if the registered nurse justifies, in writing, the need for the registered nurse to perform the activity;
instructing a service provider, except a service provider of registered nursing or specialized registered nursing, on a topic that is specific to an individual such as choking risks for an individual who has cerebral palsy;
supervising a licensed vocational nurse regarding an individual's nursing services or health status;
instructing, supervising or verifying the competency of an unlicensed person in the performance of a task delegated in accordance with rules of the Texas Board of Nursing at 22 TAC, Chapter 225 (relating to RN Delegation to Unlicensed Personnel and Tasks not Requiring Delegation in Independent Living Environments for Clients with Stable and Predictable Conditions) or the Human Resources Code, §§161.091-.093, as applicable;
participating in the development of an IPC; and
developing one annual nursing report.
4430 Activity Not Billable
The activities listed in Section 3300, Activity Not Billable, are not billable for the registered nursing service component.
Activities Not Listed in Section 4420
Any activity not described in Section 4420, Billable Activity, is not billable for the registered nursing service component.
The following are examples of activities that are not billable for the registered nursing service component, regardless of whether they constitute the practice of registered nursing:
performing or supervising an activity that does not constitute the practice of registered nursing, including:
waiting to perform a billable activity; and
waiting with an individual at a medical appointment;
making a medical appointment;
instructing on general topics unrelated to a specific individual, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation or infection control;
preparing a treatment or medication for administration and not interacting face-to-face with an individual;
storing, counting, reordering, refilling or delivering medication except as allowed in the fourth bullet of Section 4420;
creating written documentation as described in Section 4470, Written Documentation;
reviewing a written service log or written summary log of a service component as described in Section 3820, Written Service Log and Written Summary Log;
a service provider of any nursing service component (registered nursing, licensed vocational nursing unless supervising the licensed vocational nurse, specialized registered nursing or specialized licensed vocational nursing unless supervising the licensed vocational nurse) or professional therapies, if not during a service planning team meeting or during the development of an IPC or an implementation plan; and
performing an activity for which there is no medical need.
4440 Qualified Service Provider
In addition to meeting the requirements in Section 3400, Qualified Service Provider, a qualified service provider of the registered nursing service component must be a registered nurse.
4450 Unit of Service
A unit of service for the registered nursing service component is 15 minutes.
A service claim for registered nursing may not include a fraction of a unit of service.
4460 Accumulation of Service Times
Revision 12-2; Effective October 1, 2012
A program provider may accumulate service times, as described in Section 3610, 15-Minute Unit of Service (see No. 2), for registered nursing provided to one individual on a single calendar month. The service times of more than one registered nurse may be accumulated on the last day of the month. The service times of more than one registered nurse may be accumulated on the last day of the month.
A registered nurse provides registered nursing services to one individual three times during a single calendar month: July 1, 2012, 8:30-8:55 a.m. (25 minutes); July 6, 2012, 4:15-4:20 p.m. (5 minutes); and July 25, 2012, 8:00-8:05 p.m. (5 minutes).
Without accumulating service times, two units of service for registered nursing are billable for the service time of 25 minutes. The service times of five minutes are not billable because they are less than eight minutes each.
If all three service times are accumulated into one service time of 35 minutes (25 + 5 + 5), two units of service for registered nursing are billable.
If the first service time of 25 minutes is billed as two units of service on the day it was provided, and the second and third service times are accumulated into one service time of 10 minutes (5 + 5), which is billable as one unit of service on the last day of the month, July 31, 2012, three units of service for registered nursing are billable (2 + 1).
Nurse A provides 7 minutes of registered nursing to an individual. During the same month , Nurse B provides 7 minutes of licensed vocational nursing to the same individual. You could not accumulate the time and neither service would meet the minimum requirements for billing a unit of their respective nursing component.
4470 Written Documentation
A program provider must have written documentation to support a service claim for registered nursing. The written documentation must meet the requirements set forth in Section 3800, Written Documentation.
4471 Licensed Vocational Nursing
4471.1 General Description of Service Component
The licensed vocational nursing service component is the provision of licensed vocational nursing, as defined in Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 301 (link is external), to an individual.
4471.2 Billable Activity
The only billable activities for the licensed vocational nursing service component are:
interacting face-to-face with an individual who has a medical need for licensed vocational nursing, including:
conducting a focused assessment of the individual's health status;
speaking by telephone with an individual who has a medical need for licensed vocational nursing, which may include conducting an assessment of an individual if:
the assessment is conducted using protocol approved by DADS; and
the licensed vocational nurse has been trained by a registered nurse on using the protocol;
interacting by video conference with an individual who has a medical need for licensed vocational nursing, including:
researching medical information for an individual who has a medical need for licensed vocational nursing, including:
completing a focused assessment;
training a service provider of Community First Choice Personal Assistance Services/Habilitation (CFC PAS/HAB), transportation as a supported home living activity, residential assistance, day habilitation, respite, employment assistance or supported employment, or a person other than a service provider who is involved in serving an individual, regarding how to perform nursing tasks;
interacting face-to-face or speaking by telephone with a pharmacist or representative of a health insurance provider, including the Social Security Administration, about an individual's insurance benefits for medication if the licensed vocational nurse justifies, in writing, the need for the licensed vocational nurse to perform the activity;
instructing a service provider, except a service provider of registered nursing or specialized registered nursing, on a topic specific to an individual such as choking risks for an individual who has cerebral palsy;
4471.3 Activity Not Billable
The activities listed in Section 3300, Activity Not Billable, are not billable for the licensed vocational nursing service component.
Activities Not Listed in Section 4471.2
Any activity not described in Section 4471.2, Billable Activity, is not billable for the licensed vocational nursing service component.
The following are examples of activities that are not billable for the licensed vocational nursing service component, regardless of whether they constitute the practice of licensed vocational nursing:
performing or supervising an activity that does not constitute the practice of licensed vocational nursing, including:
performing an activity that constitutes the practice of professional nursing and must be performed by a registered nurse;
instructing on general topics unrelated to a specific individual, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or infection control;
storing, counting, reordering, refilling or delivering medication except as allowed in the fourth bullet of Section 4471.2;
creating written documentation as described in Section 4471.7, Written Documentation;
a service provider of any nursing service component (registered nursing, licensed vocational nursing, specialized registered nursing or specialized licensed vocational nursing), or professional therapies, if not during a service planning team meeting or during the development of an IPC or an implementation plan; and
4471.4 Qualified Service Provider
In addition to meeting the requirements in Section 3400, Qualified Service Provider, a qualified service provider of the licensed vocational nursing service component must be a licensed vocational nurse.
4471.5 Unit of Service
A unit of service for the licensed vocational nursing service component is 15 minutes.
A service claim for licensed vocational nursing may not include a fraction of a unit of service.
4471.6 Accumulation of Service Times
A program provider may accumulate service times, as described in Section 3610, 15-Minute Unit of Service (see No. 2), for licensed vocational nursing provided to one individual during a single calendar month. The service times of more than one licensed vocational nurse may be accumulated on the last day of the month.
A nurse provides licensed vocational nursing services to one individual three times during a single calendar month: July 1, 2012, 8:30-8:55 a.m. (25 minutes); July 6, 2012, 4:15-4:20 p.m. (5 minutes); and July 28, 2012, 8:00-8:05 p.m. (5 minutes).
Without accumulating service times, two units of service for licensed vocational nursing are billable for the service time of 25 minutes. The service times of five minutes are not billable because they are less than eight minutes each.
If all three service times are accumulated into one service time of 35 minutes (25 + 5 + 5), two units of service for licensed vocational nursing are billable.
If the first service time of 25 minutes is billed as two units of service on the day it was provided, and the second and third service times are accumulated into one service time of 10 minutes (5 + 5), which is billable as one unit of service on the last day of the month, July 31, 2012, three units of service for licensed vocational nursing are billable (2 + 1).
Nurse A provides 7 minutes of licensed vocational nursing to an individual. During the same month, Nurse B provides 7 minutes of registered nursing to the same individual. You could not accumulate the time and neither service would meet the minimum requirements for billing a unit of their respective nursing component.
4471.7 Written Documentation
A program provider must have written documentation to support a service claim for licensed vocational nursing. The written documentation must meet the requirements set forth in Section 3800, Written Documentation.
4472 Specialized Registered Nursing
4472.1 General Description of Service Component
The specialized registered nursing service component is the provision of professional nursing, as defined in Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 301 (link is external), to an individual who has a tracheostomy or is dependent on a ventilator.
4472.2 Billable Activity
The only billable activities for the specialized registered nursing service component are:
interacting face-to-face with an individual who has a tracheostomy or is dependent on a ventilator and who has a medical need for registered nursing, including:
speaking by telephone with an individual who has a tracheostomy or is dependent on a ventilator and who has a medical need for registered nursing, including assessing the individual's health status;
interacting by video conference with an individual who has a tracheostomy or is dependent on a ventilator and who has a medical need for registered nursing, including:
observing self-administration of medication; and
researching medical information for an individual who has a tracheostomy or is dependent on a ventilator and who has a medical need for registered nursing, including:
training the following persons on how to perform nursing tasks for an individual who has a tracheostomy or is dependent on a ventilator:
a person other than a service provider who is involved in serving the individual;
interacting face-to-face or by video conference or speaking by telephone with a person regarding the health status of an individual who has a tracheostomy or is dependent on a ventilator, but not with:
supervising a licensed vocational nurse regarding an individual’s nursing services or health status;
instructing, supervising or verifying the competency of an unlicensed person in the performance of a task delegated in accordance with rules of the Texas Board of Nursing at 22 TAC Chapter 225 (relating to RN Delegation to Unlicensed Personnel and Tasks not Requiring Delegation in Independent Living Environments for Clients with Stable and Predictable Conditions) or the Human Resources Code, §§161.091-.093, as applicable;
4472.3 Activity Not Billable
The activities listed in Section 3300, Activity Not Billable, are not billable for the specialized professional nursing service component.
Any activity not described in Section 4420, Billable Activity, is not billable for the specialized registered nursing service component.
The following are examples of activities that are not billable for the specialized registered nursing service component, regardless of whether they constitute the practice of registered nursing:
storing, counting, reordering, refilling or delivering medication except as allowed in the fourth bullet of Section 4472.2, Billable Activity;
creating written documentation as described in Section 4472.7, Written Documentation;
a service provider of any nursing service component (registered nursing, licensed vocational nursing unless supervising the licensed vocational nurse, specialized registered nursing, or specialized licensed vocational nursing unless supervising the licensed vocational nurse), or professional therapies, if not during a service planning team meeting or during the development of an IPC or an implementation plan; and
4472.4 Qualified Service Provider
In addition to meeting the requirements in Section 3400, Qualified Service Provider, a qualified service provider of the specialized registered nursing service component must be a registered nurse.
4472.5 Unit of Service
A unit of service for the specialized registered nursing service component is 15 minutes.
A service claim for specialized registered nursing may not include a fraction of a unit of service.
4472.6 Accumulation of Service Times
A program provider may accumulate service times, as described in Section 3610, 15-Minute Unit of Service (see No. 2), for specialized registered nursing provided to one individual during a single calendar month. The service times of more than one specialized registered nurse may be accumulated on the last day of the month.
A nurse provides specialized registered nursing services to one individual three times during a single calendar month: July 1, 2012, 8:30-8:55 a.m. (25 minutes); July 6, 2012, 4:15-4:20 p.m. (5 minutes); and July 28, 2012, 8:00-8:05 p.m. (5 minutes).
Without accumulating service times, two units of service for specialized registered nursing are billable for the service time of 25 minutes. The service times of five minutes are not billable because they are less than eight minutes each.
If all three service times are accumulated into one service time of 35 minutes (25 + 5 + 5), two units of service for specialized registered nursing are billable.
If the first service time of 25 minutes is billed as two units of service on the day it was provided, and the second and third service times are accumulated into one service time of 10 minutes (5 + 5), which is billable as one unit of service on the last day of the month, July 31, 2012, three units of service for specialized registered nursing are billable (2 + 1).
Nurse A provides 20 minutes of specialized registered nursing to an individual. On the same calendar day, Nurse B provides 20 minutes of specialized licensed vocational nursing to the same individual. You could not accumulate the time and neither service would meet the minimum requirements for billing a unit of their respective nursing component.
4472.7 Written Documentation
A program provider must have written documentation to support a service claim for specialized registered nursing. The written documentation must meet the requirements set forth in Section 3800, Written Documentation.
4473 Specialized Licensed Vocational Nursing
4473.1 General Description of Service Component
The specialized licensed vocational nursing service component is the provision of licensed vocational nursing, as defined in Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 301 (link is external), to an individual who has a tracheostomy or is dependent on a ventilator
4473.2 Billable Activity
The only billable activities for the specialized licensed vocational nursing service component are:
interacting face-to-face with an individual who has a tracheostomy or is dependent on a ventilator and who has a medical need for licensed vocational nursing, including:
speaking by telephone with an individual who has a tracheostomy or is dependent on a ventilator and who has a medical need for licensed vocational nursing, which may include conducting an assessment of an individual if:
interacting by video conference with an individual who has a tracheostomy or is dependent on a ventilator and who has a medical need for licensed vocational nursing, including:
researching medical information for an individual who has a tracheostomy or is dependent on a ventilator and who has a medical need for licensed vocational nursing, including:
training a service provider of Community First Choice Personal Assistance Services/Habilitation (CFC PAS/HAB), transportation as a supported home living activity, residential assistance, day habilitation, respite, employment assistance or supported employment, or a person other than a service provider who is involved in serving an individual on how to perform nursing tasks for an individual who has a tracheostomy or is dependent on a ventilator;
a service provider of any nursing service component (registered nursing, licensed vocational nursing, specialized registered nursing or specialized licensed vocational nursing), or professional therapies;
4473.3 Activity Not Billable
The activities listed in Section 3300, Activity Not Billable, are not billable for the specialized licensed vocational nursing service component.
Any activity not described in Section 4420, Billable Activity, is not billable for the specialized licensed vocational nursing service component.
The following are examples of activities that are not billable for the specialized licensed vocational nursing service component, regardless of whether they constitute the practice of licensed vocational nursing:
storing, counting, reordering, refilling or delivering medication except as allowed in the fourth bullet of Section 4473.2, Billable Activity;
creating written documentation as described in Section 4473.7, Written Documentation;
4473.4 Qualified Service Provider
In addition to meeting the requirements in Section 3400, Qualified Service Provider, a qualified service provider of the specialized licensed vocational nursing service component must be a licensed vocational nurse.
4473.5 Unit of Service
A unit of service for the specialized licensed vocational nursing service component is 15 minutes.
A service claim for specialized licensed vocational nursing may not include a fraction of a unit of service.
4473.6 Accumulation of Service Times
A program provider may accumulate service times, as described in Section 3610, 15-Minute Unit of Service (see No. 2), for specialized licensed vocational nursing provided to one individual during a single calendar month. The service times of more than one specialized licensed vocational nurse may be accumulated on the last day of the month.
A nurse provides specialized licensed vocational nursing services to one individual three times during a single calendar month: July 1, 2012, 8:30-8:55 a.m. (25 minutes); July 6, 2012, 4:15-4:20 p.m. (5 minutes); and July 28, 2012, 8:00-8:05 p.m. (5 minutes).
Without accumulating service times, two units of service for specialized licensed vocational nursing are billable for the service time of 25 minutes. The service times of five minutes are not billable because they are less than eight minutes each.
If all three service times are accumulated into one service time of 35 minutes (25 + 5 + 5), two units of service for specialized licensed vocational nursing are billable.
If the first service time of 25 minutes is billed as two units of service on the day it was provided, and the second and third service times are accumulated into one service time of 10 minutes (5 + 5), which is billable as one unit of service on the last day of the month, July 31, 2012, three units of service for specialized licensed vocational nursing are billable (2 + 1).
Nurse A provides 20 minutes of specialized licensed vocational nursing to an individual. On the same calendar day, Nurse B provides 20 minutes of specialized registered nursing to the same individual. You could not accumulate the time and neither service would meet the minimum requirements for billing a unit of their respective nursing component.
4473.7 Written Documentation
A program provider must have written documentation to support a service claim for specialized licensed vocational nursing. The written documentation must meet the requirements set forth in Section 3800, Written Documentation.
4500 Residential Assistance
4510 General Description of Service Component
The residential assistance service component is the provision of assistance and support necessary for an individual to perform personal care, health maintenance and independent living tasks, participate in community activities, and develop, retain and improve community living skills.
The residential assistance service component consists of the following subcomponents:
4520 Restrictions Regarding Submission of Claims for Residential Assistance
A program provider may not submit a service claim for multiple residential assistance subcomponents provided to the same individual on the same day.
4530 Residential Location
"Own/Family Home"
A program provider must document a residential location of "own/family home" on an individual's IPC if no service provider provides host home/companion care, residential support or supervised living to the individual.
A minor is living with a parent or a person contracting with DFPS to provide residential child care to the minor and no service provider is paid to provide host home/companion care, residential support or supervised living to the minor. The minor must have a residential location of "own/family home" on her IPC.
An adult individual is living alone or with parents and no service provider is paid to provide host home/companion care, residential support or supervised living to the individual. The individual must have a residential location of "own/family home" on his IPC.
"Host Home/Companion Care"
A program provider must document a residential location of "host home/companion care" on an individual's IPC if:
the program provider does not lease or own the individual's residence;
a service provider provides host home/companion care to the individual; and
the individual and the host home/companion care provider have the same residence.
The residence of one individual and the host home/companion care provider is leased by the individual but the program provider does not lease or own the residence. The individual must have a residential location of "host home/companion care" on his IPC.
The residence of three individuals and the host home/companion care provider is owned by the host home/companion care provider, but the program provider does not lease or own the residence. The three individuals must have a residential location of "host home/companion care" on their IPCs.
"3-Person Home"
A program provider must document a residential location of "3-Person Home" on an individual's IPC if:
the individual's residence is a three-person residence; and
a service provider provides residential support or supervised living to the individual.
"4-Person Home"
A program provider must document a residential location of "4-Person Home" on an individual's IPC if:
the individual's residence is a four-person residence; and
4540 Supported Home Living Billing Requirements
Billable Activity
The only billable activity for the supported home living subcomponent is transporting the individual, except from one day habilitation, employment assistance or supported employment site to another.
A program provider may provide transportation as a supported home living activity to an individual only if the program provider has documented a residential location of "own/family home" on the individual's IPC, as described in Section 4530, Residential Location (see No. 1).
Activity Not Billable
The activities listed in Section 3300, Activity Not Billable, are not billable for transportation as a supported home living activity.
Activities Not Listed in No. 1 Above
Any activity not described in No. 1 above is not billable for transportation as a supported home living activity.
Restrictions Regarding Submission of Claims for Transportation as a Supported Home Living Activity
transportation as a supported home living activity provided to an individual whose IPC does not have a residential location of own/family home; or
transporting an individual from one habilitation, employment assistance or supported employment site to another.
In addition to meeting the requirements in Section 3400, Qualified Service Provider, a qualified service provider of transportation as a supported home living activity:
may not have the same residence as the individual; and
a successfully completed written competency-based assessment demonstrating the ability to provide transportation as a supported home living activity and the ability to document the provision of transportation as a supported home living activity in accordance with Section 3800, Written Documentation, and No. 8 below; and
A unit of service for transportation as a supported home living activity is 15 minutes.
A service claim for transportation as a supported home living activity may not include a fraction of a unit of service.
Determining Unit of Service for Transportation as a Supported Home Living Activity
The unit of service for a service claim for transportation as a supported home living activity is determined by:
calculating transportation time, number of passengers and number of service providers using Method A or Method B, as described in Item b. below;
determining service time using the formula set forth in Item c below; and
converting service time to units of service for a service claim using Appendix III, Conversion Table, as described in Item d. below.
Calculating Transportation Time, Passengers, Service Providers
Transportation time, number of passengers and number of service providers must be calculated using Method A or Method B as described below.
Use of Only One Method on a Single Calendar Day
A program provider may not use Method A and Method B on the same calendar day.
Definitions Applicable for Method A and Method B
The following definitions apply to Method A and Method B:
A "passenger" is a person who receives a service funded by DADS, including a person enrolled in the ICF/IID program or a waiver program other than HCS.
A "trip" is a discrete period of continuous time during which one or more individuals are being transported in the same vehicle.
Using Method A, the transportation time, number of passengers and number of service providers are the same for all individuals transported in a single trip:
Transportation time begins when the first individual gets on the vehicle and ends when the last individual gets off the vehicle.
The number of passengers is the total number of passengers transported during the trip.
The number of service providers is the total number of service providers who provide services during the trip, including the driver of the vehicle.
Using Method B, the transportation time, number of passengers and number of service providers are determined separately for each individual transported in a single trip in segments that begin and end when the number of passengers or the number of service providers changes during the trip.
Determining Service Time
Service time must be determined using the transportation time, number of passengers and number of service providers for an entire trip (if using Method A) or for each segment of a trip (if using Method B).
The formula for calculating the service time is:
Service Time = [Number of Service Providers times Transportation Time] ÷ Number of Passengers
Converting Service Time to Units of Service
Service time must be converted to units of service for a service claim as set forth on Appendix III, Conversion Table.
Examples of Determining Unit of Service for Transportation as a Supported Home Living Activity
See Appendix V, Determining Units of Service for the Supported Home Living Activity of Transporting an Individual, for examples of determining the units of service for a service claim for transportation as a supported home living activity.
For Single Calendar Day
A program provider may accumulate service times, as described in Section 3610, 15-Minute Unit of Service (see No. 2), for transporting one individual on a single calendar day. The service times of more than one service provider may be accumulated.
Example of Accumulating Service Time
See Appendix V, Determining Units of Service for the Supported Home Living Activity of Transporting an Individual, for an example of accumulating service time for transportation as a supported home living activity.
A program provider must have written documentation to support a service claim for the supported home living activity of transporting an individual. The written documentation must include:
the name of the individual who was being transported;
the day, month and year the transportation was provided;
the place of departure and destination for the individual being transported;
a notation of whether the program provider is using Method A or Method B to calculate transportation time, as required by (7)(b)(II) above;
a begin and end time for each transportation time, as described in (7)(b) above;
the total minutes of each transportation time;
for each "trip" if using Method A (see (7)(b)(III) and (IV)) or, for each "segment" if using Method B (see (7)(b)(V)):
the number of service providers;
the resulting service time; and
the signature of the service provider transporting the individual;
the unit of service for a service claim resulting from each service time; and
any service times accumulated to make a unit of service for a service claim.
Form 2124, Community Support Transportation Log, may be used to document transportation as a supported home living activity. This log is only an example, however. A program provider may document such activity in any way that meets requirements.
4550 Host Home/Companion Care Subcomponent
Residence of Individual
An individual receiving host home/companion care must:
have a residence that the program provider does not lease or own; and
have a residence in which no more than three persons receive:
host home/companion care; or
a non-HCS Program service similar to host home/companion care (for example, Community Living Assistance and Support Services or services funded by DFPS or by a person's own resources); and
if the individual is a minor, not have the same residence as a parent of the minor or the spouse of a parent of the minor.
Service Provider's Residence and Availability
have the same residence as the individual; and
ensure that host home/companion care is provided to an individual when needed.
The only billable activities for the host home/companion care subcomponent are:
assisting the individual with activities of daily living, including:
bathing, dressing and personal hygiene;
meal planning and preparation; and
assisting the individual with ambulation and mobility;
reinforcing any professional therapies subcomponent provided to the individual;
assisting with the administration of the individual's medication or to perform a task delegated by a registered nurse in accordance with rules of the Texas Board of Nursing at 22 TAC, Chapter 225 (relating to RN Delegation to Unlicensed Personnel and Tasks not Requiring Delegation in Independent Living Environments for Clients with Stable and Predictable Conditions) or the Human Resources Code, §§161.091-.093, as applicable;
conducting habilitation activities that teach the individual to:
develop or improve skills that allow the individual to live more independently;
develop socially valued behaviors;
integrate into community activities;
use natural supports and typical community services available to the public; and
participate in leisure activities;
securing transportation for or transporting the individual;
supervising the individual's safety and security; and
performing a billable activity listed above by a person, on behalf of the host home companion care provider, if the person meets the requirements of a qualified service provider in No. 6 of this section and in Section 3400, Qualified Service Provider, except the second and third bullets of Section 3410, General Requirements.
A program provider may provide host home/companion care to an individual only if the program provider has documented a residential location of "host home/companion care" on the individual's IPC, as described in Section 4530, Residential Location (see No. 2).
The activities listed in Section 3300, Activity Not Billable, are not billable for the host home/companion care subcomponent.
Activities Not Listed in Paragraph (2)
Any activity not described in No. 2 above is not billable for the companion care subcomponent.
Restrictions Regarding Submission of Claims for Host Home/Companion Care
A program provider may not submit a service claim for host home/companion care:
provided to an individual whose IPC does not have a residential location of "host home/companion care;"
provided to an individual who has a residence:
that is not the same as the service provider's residence;
that the program provider leases or owns; or
in which more than three persons receive:
a non-HCS Program service similar to host home/companion care (for example, Community Living Assistance and Support Services or services funded by DFPS or by a person's own resources);
provided to a minor if a parent of the minor or the spouse of a parent of the minor has the same residence as the minor;
if, during any part of the day for which the service claim was submitted, host home/companion care was not provided to an individual when needed; and
provided on the effective dates of the following events, as determined by the dates entered into the DADS enrollment and billing system for the HCS Program:
termination of an individual's HCS Program services;
suspension of an individual's HCS Program services; or
an individual's transfer to another program provider.
In addition to meeting the requirements in Section 3400, Qualified Service Provider, a qualified service provider of the host home/companion care subcomponent must have one of the following:
a successfully completed written competency-based assessment demonstrating the ability to provide host home/companion care and the ability to document the provision of host home/companion care in accordance with Section 3800, Written Documentation, and No. 8, Written Documentation, below; and
A unit of service for the host home/companion care subcomponent is one day.
Maximum Number and Fraction of a Unit of Service
A service claim for host home/companion care may not:
be for more than one unit of service; or
include a fraction of a unit of service.
Except as provided in No. 9 below, a program provider must have written documentation to support a service claim for host home/companion care. The written documentation must:
meet the requirements set forth in Section 3800, Written Documentation;
include a description of the location of the individual's residence (by address or location code); and
a written summary log as described in Section 3820.
Submitting a Service Claim for an Individual on a Visit with Family or Friend
A program provider may submit a service claim for host home/companion care for an individual who is on a visit with a family member or friend away from the individual's residence if the visit is for at least a calendar day. If the visit is for more than 14 consecutive calendar days, the program provider may submit a service claim for only 14 calendar days of the visit.
Only Requirements of this Paragraph Apply
This is the only paragraph of this subsection that applies to a service claim submitted for host home/companion care for an individual on a visit with a family member or friend.
A program provider must have written documentation to support a service claim for host home/companion care for an individual on a visit with a family member or friend. The written documentation must include:
the dates the individual was visiting the family member or friend;
the date and signature of the individual's host home/companion care service provider.
4560 Residential Support Subcomponent
The residence of an individual receiving residential support must be a three-person residence or a four-person residence.
A program provider:
must lease or own the residence.
Availability and Presence of Service Provider
A service provider must be:
available to provide residential support to an individual, as needed;
present and awake in the residence when the individual is present in the residence; and
available to provide services for at least two shifts in one calendar day (one shift during the day and one shift at night during sleeping hours).
The only billable activities for the residential support subcomponent are:
assisting with the administration of the individual's medication or to perform a task delegated by a registered nurse in accordance with rules of the Texas Board of Nursing at 22 TAC, Chapter 225 (relating to RN Delegation to Unlicensed Personnel and Tasks not Requiring Delegation in Independent Living Environments for Clients with Stable and Predictable Conditions) or the Human Resources Code, §161.091-.093, as applicable;
conducting habilitation activities that train the individual to:
securing transportation for or transporting the individual; and
supervising the individual's safety and security.
A program provider may provide residential support to an individual only if the program provider has documented a residential location of "3-Person Home" or "4-Person Home" on the individual's IPC, as described in Section 4530, Residential Location (see No. 3 and No. 4).
The activities listed in Section 3300, Activity Not Billable, are not billable for the residential support subcomponent.
Any activity not described in No. 2, Billable Activity, is not billable for the residential support subcomponent.
Restrictions Regarding Submission of Claims for Residential Support
A program provider may not submit a service claim for residential support:
provided to an individual whose IPC does not have a residential location of "3-Person Home" or "4-Person Home;"
provided to an individual whose residence is not a three-person residence or a four-person residence;
when no service provider is present and awake in the residence when an individual is present in the residence;
if a service provider is not available to provide residential support to an individual during any part of a day; or
provided on the effective dates of the following events, as determined by the dates entered into the DADS automated system for the HCS Program:
In addition to meeting the requirements in Section 3400, Qualified Service Provider, a qualified service provider of the residential support subcomponent:
may not lease or own the individual's residence;
a successfully completed written competency-based assessment demonstrating the ability to provide residential support and the ability to document the provision of residential support in accordance with Section 3800, Written Documentation, and No. 8, Written Documentation, below; and
written personal references which evidence the service provider's ability to provide a safe and healthy environment for the individual from at least three persons who are not relatives of the service provider (Appendix II, Degree of Consanguinity or Affinity, explains who is considered a relative for purposes of these billing guidelines); and
may reside in the residence with a spouse or person with whom the service provider has a spousal relationship.
A unit of service for the residential support subcomponent is one day.
A service claim for residential support may not:
be for more than one unit of service per calendar day; or
Except as provided in No. 9 below, a program provider must have written documentation supporting a service claim for residential support. The written documentation must:
demonstrate that a service provider is present and awake in the residence during the time an individual is present in the residence or is available to provide services when the individual is away from the residence for at least two shifts in one calendar day (one shift during the day and one shift at night during sleeping hours).
A program provider may submit a service claim for residential support for an individual who is on a visit with a family member or friend away from the individual's residence if the visit is for at least a calendar day. If the visit is for more than 14 consecutive calendar days, the program provider may submit a service claim for only 14 calendar days of the visit.
No. 9 is the only portion of Section 4560 that applies to a service claim submitted for residential support for an individual on a visit with a family member or friend.
A program provider must have written documentation to support a service claim for residential support for an individual on a visit with a family member or friend. The written documentation must include:
the location of the visit; and
the date and signature of the individual's residential support service provider.
4570 Supervised Living Subcomponent
The residence of an individual receiving supervised living must be a three-person residence or a four-person residence.
available to provide supervised living to the individual as needed; and
present in the residence during normal sleeping hours.
The only billable activities for the supervised living subcomponent are:
A program provider may provide supervised living to an individual only if the program provider has documented a residential location of "3-Person Home" or "4-Person Home" on the individual's IPC, as described in Section 4530, Residential Location (see No. 3 and No. 4).
The activities listed in Section 3300, Activity Not Billable, are not billable for the supervised living subcomponent.
Activities Not Listed in No. 2, Billable Activity
Any activity not described in No. 2 above is not billable for the supervised living subcomponent.
Restrictions Regarding Submission of Claims for Supervised Living
A program provider may not submit a service claim for supervised living:
when the service provider is absent from the residence during normal sleeping hours;
if a service provider is not available to provide supervised living to an individual during any part of a day; and
provided on the effective dates of the following events, as
determined by the dates entered into the DADS automated system for the
HCS Program:
In addition to meeting the requirements in Section 3400, Qualified Service Provider, a qualified service provider of the supervised living subcomponent:
a successfully completed written competency-based
assessment demonstrating the ability to provide supervised living and
the ability to document the provision of supervised living in accordance
with Section 3800, Written Documentation, and No. 8, Written Notification, below; and
A unit of service for the supervised living subcomponent is one day.
A service claim for supervised living may not:
Except as provided in No. 9 below, a program provider must have written documentation to support a service claim for supervised living. The written documentation must:
demonstrate that a service provider is present in the residence during normal sleeping hours.
A program provider may submit a service claim for supervised living for an individual who is on a visit with a family member or friend away from the individual's residence if the visit is for at least a calendar day. If the visit is for more than 14 consecutive calendar days, the program provider may submit a service claim for only 14 calendar days of the visit.
No. 9 is the only portion of Section 4570 that applies to a service claim submitted for supervised living for an individual on a visit with a family member or friend.
A program provider must have written documentation to support a serviceclaim for supervised living for an individual on a visit with a family member or friend. The written documentation must include:
the date and signature of the individual's supervised living service provider.
4580 Submitting a Service Claim for Residential Assistance During a Preselection Visit
A program provider may submit a service claim for residential assistance while an individual is on a preselection visit only if:
the preselection visit is justified in the individual’s implementation plan;
host home companion care, residential support or supervised living is authorized by the individual's IPC;
the day for which the service claim is submitted is not beyond the 30th consecutive day of a preselection visit;
the service claim:
is for the residential assistance subcomponent authorized by the individual's IPC;
is based on billable activity, as described in Section 4500, Residential Assistance, for the residential assistance subcomponent being provided to the individual during the preselection visit;
must be based on activity performed by a qualified service provider as described in Section 3400, Qualified Service Provider, and as described in Section 4500 for the residential assistance subcomponent being provided to the individual during the preselection visit;
must be for the date the residential assistance subcomponent being provided to the individual during the preselection visit was actually provided;
must be for units of service determined in accordance with Section 3620, Daily Unit of Service, and in accordance with Section 4500 for the residential assistance subcomponent being provided to the individual during the preselection visit; and
must be supported by written documentation, as required by Section 3800, Written Documentation, and as required by Section 4500 for the residential assistance subcomponent being provided to the individual during the preselection visit.
4600 Respite
4610 General Description of Service Component
Temporary Provision of Assistance
The respite service component:
is the temporary provision of assistance and support necessary for an individual to perform personal care, health maintenance and independent living tasks, participate in community activities, and develop, retain and improve community living skills;
provides relief for a caregiver of the individual who:
has the same residence as the individual;
routinely provides assistance and support necessary for an individual to perform personal care, health maintenance and independent living tasks, participate in community activities, and develop, retain and improve community living skills;
is temporarily unavailable to provide such assistance and support; and
is not a service provider of host home/companion care, residential support, or supervised living; and
is not a service provider of Community First Choice Personal Assistance Services/Habilitation (CFC PAS/HAB) unless:
the service provider of CFC PAS/HAB routinely provides unpaid assistance and support to the individual; and
is used to provide temporary support to the primary caregiver.
If respite is provided in a setting other than the individual's residence, the program provider must provide room and board to the individual free of charge.
4620 Billable Activity
The only billable activities for the respite service component are:
interacting face-to-face with an individual to:
assist the individual with activities of daily living, including:
assist the individual with ambulation and mobility;
reinforce any professional therapies subcomponent provided to the individual;
assist with the administration of the individual's medication or to perform a task delegated by a registered nurse in accordance with rules of the Texas Board of Nursing at 22 TAC, Chapter 225 (relating to RN Delegation to Unlicensed Personnel and Tasks not Requiring Delegation in Independent Living Environments for Clients with Stable and Predictable Conditions) or the Human Resources Code, §161.091-.093, as applicable;
conduct habilitation activities that teach the individual to:
secure transportation for the individual;
supervise the individual's safety and security; and
transport the individual, except from one day habilitation site to another;
securing transportation for the individual; and
any billable activity referenced in this section that occurs at a camp that is accredited by the American Camp Association.
4630 Respite in Residence or During Overnight Stay in Non-residence
If an individual receives respite in a residence, the residence must be:
the individual's residence;
a three-person residence;
a four-person residence; or
the residence of another person (other than a three-person residence or a four-person residence) in which no more than three persons are receiving HCS Program services or a non-HCS program service similar to HCS Program services.
If an individual is receiving respite during an overnight stay in a setting that is not the residence of any person, no more than six persons receiving HCS Program services or a non-HCS Program service similar to HCS Program services may be in the setting.
4631 Residential Location
A program provider may provide respite to an individual only if the program provider has documented a residential location of "own/family home" on the individual's IPC, as described in Section 4530, Residential Location (see No. 1).
4640 Activity Not Billable
The activities listed in Section 3300, Activity Not Billable, are not billable for the respite service component.
Activities Not Listed in Section 4620
Any activity not described in Section 4620, Billable Activity, is not billable for the respite service component.
4650 Submitting a Service Claim for Respite
Respite Provided in an Individual's Residence
If a program provider provides respite in an individual's residence, the program provider may submit a service claim for no more than 96 units of service (24 hours) in one calendar day.
Respite Provided in Location Other Than the Individual's Residence
If a program provider provides 10 hours or more of respite to an individual in one calendar day in a location other than the individual's residence, the program provider may submit a service claim for no more than 40 units of service.
4651 Restrictions Regarding Submission of Claims for Respite
respite provided to an individual whose IPC does not have a residential location of "own/family home;"
respite provided to an individual who does not have the same residence as a caregiver who routinely provides assistance and support necessary for the individual to perform personal care, health maintenance and independent living tasks, participate in community activities, and develop, retain and improve community living skills;
respite provided to an individual that is not for relief of a caregiver who routinely provides assistance and support described in the bullet directly above;
respite provided to an individual that is relief of a caregiver who is a service provider of host home/companion care, residential support or supervised living to the individual;
respite provided to an individual who lives independently (that is, does not have a caregiver who routinely provides the assistance and support described in the second bullet above);
40 units of service or more of respite provided on a day for which a service claim for Community First Choice Personal Assistance Services/Habilitation is also submitted; or
more than 40 units of respite if more than 10 hours of respite are provided to an individual in one calendar day in a location other than the individual's residence.
4660 Qualified Service Provider
In addition to meeting the requirements in Section 3400, Qualified Service Provider, a qualified service provider of the respite service component:
a successfully completed written competency-based assessment demonstrating the ability to provide respite and the ability to document the provision of respite in accordance with Section 3800, Written Documentation, and Section 4690, Written Documentation; and
4670 Unit of Service
A unit of service for the respite service component is 15 minutes.
A service claim for respite may not include a fraction of a unit of service.
4680 Payment Limit
The maximum amount DADS will pay a program provider for respite provided to an individual is 1200 units of service (300 hours) per IPC year.
4690 Written Documentation
A program provider must have written documentation to support a service claim for respite. The written documentation must:
meet the requirements set forth in Section 3800, Written Service Log and Written Summary Log;
include the exact time the service event began and the exact time the service event ended documented by the service provider making the written service log; and
include a written justification in the individual's PDP for the use of more than one service provider for any activity simultaneously performed by more than one service provider.
4700 Supported Employment
Revision 14-2; Effective April 10, 2014
4710 General Description of Service Component
Supported employment means assistance provided in order to sustain competitive employment or self-employment to an individual who, because of a disability, requires intensive, ongoing support to be self-employed, work from home or perform in a work setting at which individuals without disabilities are employed. Supported employment includes employment adaptations, supervision, training related to an individual’s assessed needs, and earning at least a minimum wage (if not self-employed).
4720 Billable Activity
The only billable activities for the supported employment service component are:
employment adaptations, supervision and training related to an individual's disability;
determining how the individual will travel to and from a job;
securing transportation for or transporting an individual, as necessary, to assist self-employment, work from home or perform in a work setting;
training or consulting with employers, coworkers or advocates to maximize natural supports;
assisting the individual with career advancement;
assisting the individual to develop assets and obtain self-sufficiency through work;
training or consulting in work-related tasks or behaviors, such as support for advertising, marketing and sales;
4730 Activity Not Billable
The activities listed in Section 3300, Activity Not Billable, are not billable for the supported employment service component.
Activities Not Listed in Section 4720
Any activity not described in Section 4720, Billable Activity, is not billable for the supported employment service component.
The following are examples of activities that are not billable for the supported employment service component:
interacting with an individual prior to the individual's employment;
contact with an individual to provide Supported Employment services simultaneously with Day Habilitation services, Employment Assistance, Community First Choice Personal Assistance Services/Habilitation (CFC PAS/HAB) or Respite;
habilitation activities provided and billed as part of the Day Habilitation or CFC PAS/HAB service component;
time spent waiting to provide a service;
any activity taking place in a sheltered work environment or other similar types of vocational services furnished in specialized facilities, or using Medicaid funds paid by DADS to the provider for incentive payments, subsidies or unrelated vocational training expenses;
any activity that occurs before or after employment which is gained as a result of paying an employer to encourage the employer to hire an individual;
any activity that occurs before or after employment which is gained as a result of paying an employer for supervision, training, support and adaptations for an individual that the employer typically makes available to other workers without disabilities filling similar positions in the business;
paying the individual as an incentive to participate in Supported Employment activities; and
paying the individual for expenses associated with the start-up costs or operating expenses of an individual’s business.
4740 Qualified Service Provider
In addition to meeting the requirements in Section 3400, Qualified Service Provider, a qualified service provider of the supported employment service component:
is at least 18 years of age, is not the individual’s legally responsible person and must have one of the following:
a bachelor's degree in rehabilitation, business, marketing or a related human services field, and at least six months of paid or unpaid experience providing services to people with disabilities;
an associate's degree in rehabilitation, business, marketing or a related human services field, and at least one year of paid or unpaid experience providing services to people with disabilities; or
a high school diploma or a certificate recognized by a state as the equivalent of a high school diploma, and at least two years of paid or unpaid experience providing services to people with disabilities.
has experience evidenced by:
for paid experience, a written statement from a person who paid for the service or supervised the provision of the service; and
for unpaid experience, a written statement from a person who has personal knowledge of the experience.
4750 Restrictions Regarding Submission of Claims for Supported Employment
A program provider may not submit a service claim for supported employment provided to an individual if supported employment is available to the individual through the public school system.
4760 Unit of Service
A unit of service for the supported employment service component is 15 minutes.
A service claim for supported employment may not include a fraction of a unit of service.
4770 Written Documentation
A program provider must have written documentation to support a service claim for supported employment. The written documentation must:
include the exact time the service event began and the exact time each service event ended documented by the service provider making the written service log;
for an individual under age 22, include evidence that supported employment services are not available to the individual under a program funded under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. §1401 et seq.); and
for any activity simultaneously performed by more than one service provider, include a written justification in the individual's PDP for the use of more than one service provider.
4780 Supported Employment Documentation Requirements
include the exact time the service event began and the exact time each service event ended, documented by the service provider making the written service log;
for any activity simultaneously performed by more than one service provider, include a written justification in the individual's Person-Directed Plan for the use of more than one service provider.
4800 Employment Assistance
4810 General Description of Service Component
Employment Assistance means assistance provided to an individual to help the individual locate paid competitive employment in the community or self-employment.
4820 Employment Assistance Billable Time/Activities
Employment Assistance services consist of developing and implementing strategies for achieving the individual’s desired employment outcome, including more suitable employment for individuals who are employed. Services are individualized, person-directed, and may include:
Identifying an individual's employment preferences, job skills and requirements for a work setting and work conditions;
Assisting the individual with transportation needs, which include:
securing transportation for or transporting an individual, as necessary, to assist the individual to obtain a job; and
transporting the individual to help the individual locate paid employment in the community;
Participating in service planning team meetings, including those with the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services or, for individuals under age 22, with the individual’s school district;
Assisting the individual to understand the impact of work activity on his/her services and financial supports;
Training related to an individual’s assessed needs specific to his/her employment preferences, job skills and requirements for a work setting and work conditions;
Performing a job analysis to determine if a potential job meets the individual’s interests, capabilities, preferences and ongoing support needs;
Accompanying the individual to interviews; and
Educating the employer about the Work Opportunity Tax Credit and other employer benefits.
Supporting the individual in work-related tasks or behaviors, such as advertising, marketing, sales, accounting, and obtaining licenses and registrations;
4830 Employment Assistance Non-billable Time/Activities
Employment Assistance provided when an individual is independently employed in the community, unless the person-directed plan (PDP) has identified outcomes for the individual to find additional or more suitable employment.
Habilitation activities provided and billed as part of the Day Habilitation or Community First Choice Personal Assistance Services/Habilitation (CFC PAS/HAB) service component.
Time spent waiting to provide a service.
Face-to-face contact with an individual to provide Employment Assistance services simultaneously with Day Habilitation services, Supported Employment, CFC PAS/HAB or Respite.
Employment Assistance services accessed and/or funded through other sources at no cost to the Home and Community-based Services provider. Examples include, but are not limited to, services provided to an individual through the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, the public school system, Medicaid Rehabilitative Services for Persons with Chronic Mental Illness, senior citizen centers, volunteer programs or other community-based sources.
The use of Medicaid funds paid by DADS to the provider for incentive payments, subsidies or unrelated vocational training expenses, such as paying an employer:
to encourage the employer to hire an individual; or
for supervision, training, support and adaptations for an individual that the employer typically makes available to other workers without disabilities filling similar positions in the business.
The use of Medicaid funds paid by DADS to the provider for incentive payments, subsidies or unrelated vocational training expenses, such as paying the individual:
as an incentive to participate in Employment Assistance activities; or
Unit of Service: 15 minutes
4840 Employment Assistance Qualified Service Provider
In addition to meeting the requirements in Section 3400, Qualified Service Provider, a qualified service provider of the employment services component:
4850 Unit of Service
4860 Employment Assistance Documentation Requirements
Documentation will be maintained in the file of each participant receiving Employment Assistance verifying that such assistance is not otherwise available to the participant under a program funded under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or Public Law 94-142. See the DADS/DARS MOA for more detail on coordination and documentation processes: http://www.dads.state.tx.us/providers/supportedemployment/dars-collaboration.html (link is external).
A service log for each service event that describes the service and, when appropriate, includes information pertaining to the individual's progress toward goals and objectives.
The service log must include:
Date of service (month, day, year)
Actual begin and end time of each billable service event
Description of the service event
Name and title of the service provider
‹ Section 3000, General Requirements for Service Components Based on Billable Activity up Section 5000, General Requirements for Service Components Not Based on Billable Activity ›