10100, Long Term Services and Supports
10100 Long Term Services and Supports
Revision 18-0; Effective September 4, 2018
Texas Medicaid offers an array of long-term services and supports (LTSS) to STAR+PLUS members. Managed care organizations (MCOs) authorize LTSS in a way that reflects a member's ongoing need, based on a person-centered assessment, and a person-centered service plan. State plan LTSS are available to all STAR+PLUS members who meet functional and medical necessity (MN) for the services. Services include Day Activity and Health Services (DAHS), personal care services (PCS), Community First Choice (CFC) for members who meet level of care (LOC) eligibility, and services provided by a nursing facility (NF).
10110 Day Activity and Health Services
Revision 18-0; Effective September 4, 2018
Day Activity and Health Services (DAHS) is a Medicaid state plan service available to STAR+PLUS members who may benefit from a structured and comprehensive program that is designed to meet the needs of adults with functional impairments through an individual service plan (ISP) by providing health, social and related support services in a protective setting. Eligibility for the service is limited to members who need the service because of a chronic medical condition and are able to benefit therapeutically from the service. DAHS provides attendant care in a facility setting under the supervision of a nurse. Services include nursing and nurse-delegated tasks, physical rehabilitation, nutrition, social activities, and transportation to and from the facility when another means of transportation is unavailable
10111 DAHS Limitations
Revision 18-0; Effective September 4, 2018
Day Activity and Health Services (DAHS) is limited to no more than 10 hours per day and 230 hours per month, per the Texas state plan, and is typically authorized for three to six hours per day. This limit may be exceeded with additional authorization from the managed care organization (MCO). Authorization for DAHS must be related to the member's chronic medical condition to be considered medically necessary and the member must have one or more functional limitations, and a physician assessment indicating the potential for receiving therapeutic benefit from DAHS as determined by a physician. Authorization relating to a primary diagnosis of mental health disorders, intellectual disabilities or related conditions is prohibited by the Texas state plan.
10120 Day Activity and Health Services Providers
Revision 18-0; Effective September 4, 2018
Day Activity and Health Services (DAHS) is provided in a facility licensed by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)and must comply with Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Title 40, §98, Adult Day Care and Day Activity and Health Services and Requirements. To provide DAHS, a facility must be credentialed and monitored by the managed care organization (MCO) and hold an MCO contract.
DAHS facilities are responsible for:
- Nursing services:
- completion of a nursing assessment, assistance with prescribed medications, counseling concerning health needs and supervision of delegated tasks and personal care services (PCS); and
- develop interventions to stabilize, improve or prevent complications resulting from a condition consistent with physician orders and incorporated into the individual service plan (ISP).
- Physical rehabilitative services:
- restorative nursing; and
- group and individual exercises, including range of motion exercises.
- Nutrition services:
- one hot midday meal;
- a mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack;
- preparation of foods required for special diets; and
- dietary counseling and nutrition education for the member and his or her family.
- Transportation:
- moving to and from the facility, to and from the facility on an activity outing, and to and from a facility approved to provide therapies if the member requires additional services on days of attendance at the DAHS facility. The provider must:
- coordinate the use of other transportation resources within the community;
- make every effort to have the family transport the member;
- manage upkeep and operation of facility vehicles, including liability insurance. Vehicles used by the facility must be maintained in a condition to meet the vehicle inspection requirements of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS); and
- have sufficient staff to ensure the safety of members being transported to and from their homes.
- moving to and from the facility, to and from the facility on an activity outing, and to and from a facility approved to provide therapies if the member requires additional services on days of attendance at the DAHS facility. The provider must:
- Activities and other supportive services:
- activities offered at the facility must be meaningful, fun, therapeutic and educational. A provider must offer at least three different scheduled activities in at least one or more of the following categories
- exercise;
- games;
- educational or reality orientation; and/or
- crafts; and
- a provider must offer at least one of the following activities, at cost to the provider, monthly:
- trips or special events; or
- cultural enrichment.
- activities offered at the facility must be meaningful, fun, therapeutic and educational. A provider must offer at least three different scheduled activities in at least one or more of the following categories
10130 Assessment for Day Activity and Health Services
Revision 18-0; Effective September 4, 2018
The potential for therapeutic benefit must be established by a physician's assessment and requires a physician's order. Functional need for Day Activity and Health Services (DAHS) is established by the managed care organization (MCO) service coordinator using Form H2060, Needs Assessment Questionnaire and Task/Hour Guide, and Form H2060-A, Addendum to Form H2060, or Form H6516, Community First Choice Assessment, and Form H2060-A.
A DAHS facility nurse must complete a DAHS assessment or the MCO's equivalent process for each STAR+PLUS member at the facility. The DAHS assessment may be conducted by a registered nurse (RN), based upon the member's condition at the time of initial assessment. The DAHS facility nurse completes a DAHS assessment at the DAHS facility or the member's home. DAHS assessments must be conducted, at a minimum, when:
- the member needs an initial assessment for prior authorization by a STAR+PLUS MCO;
- a member transfers to a new facility (conducted by the gaining facility);
- at reauthorization; or
- the DAHS nurse determines a member needs to be reassessed.
The member or authorized representative (AR) must sign the DAHS assessment each time the nurse completes or revises the DAHS assessment. The DAHS assessment must identify specific conditions that may affect the member’s functioning.
10140 Reassessment for Day Activity and Health Services
Revision 18-0; Effective September 4, 2018
Reassessment for Day Activity and Health Services (DAHS) by a physician is required at least every 12 months for continued authorization. For this service, a physician assessment may be no older than 90 days from the date at which an authorization is requested. Reassessment of functional and medical necessity (MN) for DAHS is established, at least annually, by the managed care organization (MCO) service coordinator using:
- Form H2060, Needs Assessment and Questionnaire Task/Hour Guide, and Form H2060-A, Addendum to Form H2060; or
- Form H6516, Community First Choice Assessment, and Form H2060-A.
A member is reassessed at regular intervals by the facility nurse. In addition, the facility nurse assesses the member for nursing, physical rehabilitation and nutritional services when a member:
- first enters the facility;
- transfers from another DAHS facility; or
- experiences a change in condition resulting in the need for a new individual service plan (ISP) due to changes in dietary restrictions, medications or other services provided by the facility. If the change in condition necessitates, the facility nurse coordinates with the member's managed care organization (MCO) service coordinator or physician for a physician assessment.
10150 Authorization for Day Activity and Health Services
Revision 18-0; Effective September 4, 2018
To authorize Day Activity and Health Services (DAHS), the managed care organization (MCO) must complete Form H2060, Needs Assessment Questionnaire and Task/Hour Guide, and Form H2060-A, Addendum to Form H2060, or Form H6516, Community First Choice Assessment, and Form H2060-A. The DAHS facility must complete and submit the MCO's required documentation. A physician's order must be dated no more than 90 days prior to the authorization request.
The documentation required by the MCO must be dated no more than 90 days prior to the authorization request. MCOs may issue temporary authorizations if all forms are not prepared and submitted concurrently. Temporary authorizations must expire no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from receipt by the facility. DAHS authorizations must reflect a member's ongoing need and should typically be no shorter than six months and no longer than 12 months. Authorizations must be honored unless the member experiences a change in condition, transfers to a different DAHS facility or transfers to the gaining MCO. If an authorization is for less than 12 months, the MCO may not require a new physician signature unless 12 months from the last signature has passed or the member's condition changes, resulting in the need for a new individual service plan (ISP) due to changes in dietary restrictions, medications or other services provided by the facility.
10160 Reauthorization
Revision 18-0; Effective September 4, 2018
Providers of Day Activity and Health Services (DAHS) must receive reauthorization from a managed care organization (MCO) at least every 12 months in accordance with the Medicaid state plan. If a member transfers facilities, a new authorization from the gaining facility must be obtained by the DAHS facility prior to the delivery of service. Failure to obtain an authorization may result in the DAHS facility from receiving a non-payment or recoupment.
If a member experiences a significant change in condition or is admitted to a hospital or nursing facility (NF), the DAHS provider and MCO must reauthorize services based on the member's current condition. The MCO's assessment, the facility assessment and the physician assessment must be updated, based on the member's current condition.
If the member's physician's orders, dietary and medication needs and functional ability have not changed since the previous DAHS authorization, the physician may use an abbreviated form, if permitted by the MCO. MCOs may issue temporary reauthorizations if all forms are not prepared and submitted at the same time (Form H2060, Needs Assessment Questionnaire and Task/Hour Guide, and Form H2060-A, Addendum to Form H2060, or Form H6516, Community First Choice Assessment, and Form H2060-A). Temporary reauthorizations must expire no later than 60 days from receipt by the facility. Reauthorizations may be sought by the DAHS facility at any time. The reauthorization must not exceed a period of 12 months.
10170 Transfer Between Facilities
Revision 18-0; Effective September 4, 2018
If a member chooses to transfer to a different Day Activity and Health Services (DAHS) facility in the same service area or moves to another part of the state, the gaining facility must complete an assessment and obtain the managed care organization’s (MCO's) required documentation within 14 days for continued authorization. If the gaining facility cannot obtain required documentation within 14 days, the MCO may issue a temporary authorization to ensure continuity of care. The MCO may not require a new physician assessment if an assessment was conducted in the previous 12 months. The gaining DAHS facility should request documentation pertaining to the member, including assessments and forms from the member's losing DAHS facility or the member's MCO service coordinator.
10180 Transfer Between Managed Care Organizations
Revision 18-0; Effective September 4, 2018
10181 Gaining MCO in Same Service Area
Revision18-0; Effective September 4, 2018
If a member transfers to the gaining managed care organization (MCO) in the same service area, the existing authorization for Day Activity and Health Services (DAHS) must be honored by the gaining MCO until the earliest of the following actions:
- the authorization expires;
- six months have passed; or
- the MCO has assessed the member and issued a new authorization.
10182 Gaining MCO in Different Service Area
Revision18-0; Effective September 4, 2018
If a member moves to a different service area, transfers to a different managed care organization (MCO) and has an existing authorization for Day Activity and Health Services (DAHS), then the gaining MCO must assist the member in locating an in-network DAHS facility and primary care provider (PCP). The gaining MCO must complete required Form H2060, Needs Assessment Questionnaire and Task/Hour Guide, and Form H2060-A, Addendum to Form H2060, or Form H6516, Community First Choice Assessment, and Form H2060-A. The gaining facility must coordinate with the gaining MCO to complete the MCO's required documents and forms.