Reports and Presentations

Section 260.003 required the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to develop and publish model standards for the operation of a boarding home facility and specifies that these standards must address elements such as construction, fire safety, sanitary conditions, reporting and investigation of injuries and incidents, staff education, and assessment of residents.

This report provides an overview of the collaborative efforts of HHSC and the stakeholder community in support of bridging the gap to pediatric specialty care through the use of telemedicine in rural Texas. It includes information on the establishment of a stakeholder workgroup, a pilot telemedicine project and the educational, technical and planning considerations involved with achieving positive outcomes and effecting meaningful knowledge transfer.

The report provides a status on the distribution of the Guide to mothers, fathers, and caregivers in both English and Spanish relating to the development, health, and safety of a child from birth until age five.

HHSC's New Developments in Safeguarding Protected Health Information report including a summary of privacy related complaints filed by the public.

The report examines uncompensated care charges and costs from hospitals, uncompensated care costs by type of hospital, the funding available to offset uncompensated care costs, uncompensated care costs after funding, and the health care reform impact.

Rider 74 requires HHSC to implement a mental health peer support re-entry program. The rider further requires HHSC to submit a report on the program that includes the total population to be served and participant outcomes to the Office of the Governor and the Legislative Budget Board by December 1, 2018.

The 2018 version of the Telemedicine, Telehealth, and Home Telemonitoring Services in Texas Medicaid report provides client utilization and provider expenditure trends for these services for fiscal years (FY) 2016 and 2017.

The report provides an update on the implementation of the original 2001 Promoting Independence Plan to ensure appropriate care settings for persons with disabilities, and the provision of a system of services and supports that foster independence and productivity, including meaningful opportunities for a person with a disability to live in the most appropriate care setting.

The Office of the State Long-term Care Ombudsman (Office) is independent within HHSC. Long-term care ombudsmen regularly visit assisted living facilities (ALFs) and advocate for residents. This report describes ombudsman services in ALFs in state fiscal year 2017, including recommendations to ensure the highest quality of life and care for residents.