The Texas Health & Human Services Commission has recently updated three Electronic Visit Verification resources that are listed on the EVV webpage. These include the EVV Required Training Checklist, Getting Started with EVV, and Program and Service Requirements for Schedules. The In-Home team has gone through these updates to find the information that applies to our clients. To make things even easier for you, we have attached the relevant information below. You can now stay up-to-date with the latest EVV resources without having to go through them yourself. EVV Required Training Checklist- This resource has been updated to align with EVV Policy Handbook revisions, list training course names and describe the required training, and has included a fillable feature to help document completed trainings. Getting Started with EVV- This is a guide listing the steps and resources available to get started with an EVV system. HHSC has created a single-page guide for each interested party. The ones that apply to our clients and their attendants are the following: Guide for CDS Employers to Get Started with EVV Guide for CDS Employees to Get Started with EVV Guide for Service Providers to Get Started with EVV *Program and Service Requirements for Schedules is a resource that is mainly intended to help FMSAs and Direct agencies stay in compliance with the state. If you would still like to read through it, you can simply follow the link.

Dear Clients, we would like to remind you that the EVV CDS Employer Training is required to be completed annually. To stay in compliance, please complete the training as soon as possible. You can do this by attending an EVV Policy training for CDS employers webinar or completing the appropriate training course on the HHS Learning Portal. Additionally, the EVV System training needs to be completed according to the employer’s Option selection on Form 1722. Please be sure to check the HHS Learning Portal regularly for the date of the next EVV Policy Training Webinar, and register as needed. Below are helpful resources to assist you in completing these tasks. Please find the links below for any information or help you may need. If you have further questions, don't hesitate to reach out to us. Thank you for your attention to this matter! HHS EVV Training Resources: Electronic-Visit-Verification/EVV-Training-Resources HHS Learning Portal: LearningPortal-HHS-Texas EVV Learning Portal Guide: EVV HHS-Learning-Portal-Guide Vesta EVV System Training: VestaEVV/Training *Please submit your certificate of completion to your CDS Consultant.

Winners of the contest from the 671 submissions across all age groups for original artwork, writing and photography will be announced prior to the reception and posted on the Texas System of Care Gallery webpage. The reception will feature remarks from HHSC executive leadership, a slideshow of the winners’ artwork, a poetry reading and a live question-and-answer panel with artists. https://gallery.txsystemofcare.org/winners/

Congrats to Accenture and HHAX! We want to assure our clients that no changes to our EVV vendor are expected. We will continue working with DataLogic/Vesta. For more information regarding this update, please visit the Texas HHSC article by following the link below. https://www.hhs.texas.gov/provider-news/2023/05/05/electronic-visit-verification-contract-awarded-accenture-hhaexchange

The celebration at the Texas State Capitol will feature a variety of activities and performances highlighting the importance of promoting children’s mental health, including musical performances, guest speakers and interactive exhibits. https://cmhaustin.weebly.com/

In-Home Attendant Services will be the Parent to Parent conference that is being held at El Paso on May 13, 2023. Come join the conference and meet us. West Texas Parent Conference Saturday, May 13, 2023 9 AM - 3:15 PM ESC Region 19 6611 Boeing Dr. El Paso, TX 79925

Texas has decided to resume the eligibility redeterminations for about 5.9 million Medicaid recipients, now that the federal Medicaid coverage requirement ended in the end of March. Federal guidance requires states to conduct a renewal determination for all Medicaid recipients over a 12-month period, and HHSC anticipates it will complete this process by May 2024. HHSC estimates Medicaid caseloads will return to levels in line with historical trends within the next two years. https://www.hhs.texas.gov/news/2023/04/hhsc-resumes-medicaid-eligibility-redeterminations-continuous-coverage-requirement-ends

On May 30 at 11 a.m, panelists will share workforce information, eligibility and the process to become a peer specialist and explore a day in the life of a peer specialist.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is reminding Medicaid recipients who received renewal packets in April to return their information to the agency to avoid potential gaps in coverage if they are still eligible. To make sure that all Medicaid recipients who received the renewal packets in April have at least 30 days to respond in time, HHSC has extended the deadline to return said packets from May 8 to May 15. https://www.hhs.texas.gov/news/2023/05/hhsc-reminds-medicaid-recipients-submit-renewal-packets

May is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month and HHSC has decided to highlight a variety of opportunities and resources to raise awareness about mental health issues. https://www.hhs.texas.gov/news/2023/04/hhsc-recognizes-mental-health-awareness-month

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is recognizing Maternal Mental Health Week, which runs May 1-7, by highlighting a variety of services available to assist Texas women in identifying and treating maternal mental health conditions. Almost 1 in 5 women will experience a mental health condition during pregnancy or in the year after birth, according to the World Health Organization. Those conditions can include depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar illness, substance use disorders and others. HHSC provides various services to assist Texas women experiencing maternal mental health challenges/issues. https://www.hhs.texas.gov/news/2023/05/hhsc-recognizes-maternal-mental-health-week-highlighting-mental-health-services