PAS Webinar Series

1. Overview of minimum standards and requirements 

Date: April 4, 2024 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Covers 26 TAC §558.404 (a)-(e) and selected portions of Subchapter C 

Session Description:

This discussion will present an overview of licensing standards for PAS agencies that will include the statutory and regulatory definitions, services provided by unlicensed personnel, and a list of relevant requirements in Subchapter C of the state licensing standards. Topics will address administrator and agency responsibilities. The overview will include a basic introduction of state contracts available to PAS agencies in relation to policies and procedures required for compliance in the regulatory and contract monitoring environment.

Learning Objectives

• Locate the state statute for home and community support services agencies.
• Define personal assistance services and personal care.
• Identify state licensing standards that apply to personal assistance services agencies.
• Discuss potential areas of noncompliance and threats to care and safety for PAS clients.

Continuing Education:

1.00 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates; 1.00 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education

2. Individualized Service Plans

Date: April 9, 2024 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Covers 26 TAC §558.404(f)(2)

Session Description:

This discussion will present the requirements for an individualized service plan in personal assistance services agencies (PAS) including the required elements of the plan, documentation in the client record prior to use of EVV and after obtaining contracts that require use of EVV, and supervision requirements to ensure care and services are delivered timely, are effective to meet client goals of care needed by the client.

Learning Objectives:

• List and describe the elements of the individualized service plan.
• Describe supervision requirements to ensure the plan is implemented and followed.
• Identify client record requirements related to the delivery of services.

Continuing Education:

1.00 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates; 1.00 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education

3. Staffing Policies

Date: April 11, 2024 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Covers 26 TAC §558.245 

Session Description:

An agency must adopt and enforce staffing policies to govern personnel who provide care and services to each client. But, what policies are required? How does the administrator know the policies are meeting the minimum standards and are being followed? This session will list the required policies and some that you may not realize a surveyor might request based on services delivered. The discussion will provide an overview of risks and review for policies and procedures.

Learning Objectives:

• List required staffing policies in the minimum standards.
• Describe the connection between the client list and necessary staffing policies.
• Describe training and orientation requirements for staff and contractors.

Continuing Education:

1.00 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates; 1.00 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education

4. Verification of Employability/Use of Unlicensed Personnel: Performance and Documentation 

Date: April 16, 2024 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Covers 26 TAC §558.247 and §558.247 (a)(5)(B)

Session Description:

A home and community support services agency must ensure that it verifies employability for all unlicensed personnel working on behalf of the agency. This session will discuss required employability checks of the Employee Misconduct Registry (EMR) and the Nurse Aide Registry (NAR) as well as criminal history and background checks in employee references. The session will discuss the statutes and rules related to employability checks to ensure that an unlicensed person may have face-to-face contact with a client. The presenter will also discuss risks and consequences of failure to comply.

Learning Objectives

• The participant will be able locate the requirements for employability checks of unlicensed personnel.
• Describe required documentation in the personnel record for each unlicensed personnel.
• Mitigate risk of noncompliance through policy implementation and administrator or supervisor review.

Continuing Education:

1.00 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates; 1.00 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education

5. Complaints and Self-Reported Incidents of Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation: an overview

Date: April 18, 2024 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Covers26 TAC §558.249(c)(1)-(2) and §558.250

Session Description:

The session will provide an overview of the requirements for PAS investigation of complaints and reporting of self-reported incidents of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. The presenter will discuss the timeframes for reporting and investigation as well as the definitions of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the definitions of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
• Differentiate between a complaint and a self-reportable incident of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
• Discuss the required elements of an incident report and an investigation.
• Conduct a review of previous reports to measure self-compliance with the requirements and adjust practices in future application of the regulations.

Continuing Education:

1.00 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates; 1.00 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education

6. Infection Control

Date: April 23, 2024 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Covers 26 TAC §558.285 

Session Description:

This session will discuss the requirements for personal assistance services agencies to have an effective infection control program and to document decisions regarding exclusion of OSHA requirements for bloodborne pathogens.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe elements of a complaint infection control program in a post-pandemic environment.
• Make an informed decision about the application of OSHA requirements for bloodborne pathogens exposure in the agency based on its clientele and services delivered.
• Coach staff demonstration of effective infection control techniques in the home or homelike environment.

Continuing Education:

1.00 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates; 1.00 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education

7. Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement 

Date: April 25th, 2024 | 12:00 - 1:00pm

Covers 26 TAC §558.287(a)(1)

Session Description:

This session will discuss the requirements for a quality assessment and performance improvement (QAPI) program in a personal assistance services agency. Participants will be given an exercise and tool to conduct a review of existing compliance in independent study.

Learning Objectives

• Identify requirements for the QAPI program.
• Link a representative sample to the client list requirements in 26 TAC §558.293.
• Ensure that required members of the QAPI committee are present and participating in meetings.
• State the required frequency for QAPI committee review.

Continuing Education:

1.00 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates; 1.00 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education

8. Survey Preparedness and Agency Cooperation with a Survey

Date: April 30, 2024 | 12:00 - 1:00pm

Covers26 TAC §558.507

Session Description:

This session will link survey requirement, the review process, and contract monitoring to preparation for long term care regulatory surveys and complaint investigations as well as contract monitoring activities. The session will provide ways to prevent citations through survey readiness and self-review.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the survey and investigation process.
• Discuss contract monitoring participation requirements.
• Articulate the importance of self-review and plans of correction when noncompliance is discovered during survey preparation.

Continuing Education:

1.00 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates; 1.00 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education

9. BONUS SESSION: How Was the Journey? A follow-up discussion to the PAS Enhanced Compliance Series

Date: July 16th, 2024 | 12:00 - 1:30pm

Session Description:

This one and a half-hour facilitated discussion will allow Personal Assistance Services Agency administrators and supervisors to reinforce lessons learned during the webinar series, Personal Assistance Services: An Administrator’s Roadmap to Enhanced Compliance, while discussing implementation challenges in real time. Content will focus on self-review of the compliance series topics based on a quarter’s worth of services delivered and data captured, post training.

Continuing Education:

1.00 clock hours continuing education for Administrators/Alternates;