UPDATED: Financial Management Services Agencies May Suspend Face-to-Face Activities Through 11/30
Date: 10/23/20
Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced that Financial Management Services Agencies (FMSAs) may suspend face-to-face Consumer Directed Services (CDS) employer orientations through the extended date of November 30, 2020* in response to COVID-19. As an alternative, FMSAs should provide virtual or telephonic orientations through November 30.* Following the expiration of the extension, FMSAs will be required to provide face-to-face visits for the CDS employers whose initial orientation was conducted virtually or by telephone.
Additional Guidance
During this pandemic, CDS employers are also advised to limit the number of people entering the homes of individuals receiving services. Persons should be denied entry if they:
- Have symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath or sore throat.
- Have had contact with someone in the last 14 days who has a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 or is under investigation for COVID-19.
- Have traveled internationally to countries with sustained community transmission in the last 14 days.
HHS strongly encourages individuals to refrain from attending public events in which people are gathered. This includes refraining from receiving day habilitation services in group settings.
For additional information regarding the suspension of face-to-face activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, please see COVID-19 Guidance for FMSAs and CDS Employers.
For the latest Superior news on Coronavirus, please visit Foster Care Texas' Coronavirus Updates webpage.
*Please note: Previously, the end date for this guidance was April 30, 2020, then extended to May 31, June 30, July 31 and October 23, 2020. Per HHS, guidance dates have been extended through November 30, 2020, unless the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services ends the public health emergency earlier. If the public health emergency ends earlier, HHS will provide additional information.