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Reminder: Revised Guidance for COVID-19 Flexibility for Registered Nursing Services Provided by Telehealth for HCS and TxHmL

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, flexibilities were put in place to allow comprehensive nursing assessments to be provided by telehealth (synchronous audio-visual technology).

This revised guidance applies to:

  • Home and Community-based Services (HCS)
  • Texas Home Living (TxHmL)

This alert is a reminder that HHSC continues to waive the requirement for the comprehensive nursing assessment to be completed in person as outlined in Section 4420(1)(A) and Section 4472.2(1)(A) of the HCS Program Billing Requirements and TxHmL Program Billing Requirements, allowing the comprehensive nursing assessment to be provided through synchronous audio-visual technology until the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The registered nurse has discretion to determine if an in-person assessment is the most appropriate means to complete the comprehensive nursing assessment.

This flexibility will end at the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency and a registered nurse will again be required to complete all comprehensive nursing assessments in person.

HHSC is notifying providers now so they can prepare for in-person activities as soon as the COVID-19 public health emergency ends. HHSC will notify providers of that date as soon as it is confirmed by the federal government.

For questions, email one of the mailboxes below: