SESSIONS
DAY 1
Mon. November 16
DAY 2
Tues. November 17
DAY 3
Wed. November 18
NOVEMBER 16
Core Program
* Denotes required topics for first time Administrators / Alternates.
Standard Track
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
*1A. Employment Law
558.259 (c) (2) (C) (D) (E) (F)
In this informative session, Brian Aslin, will review the key tenets of several important employment law regulations providing attendees not only a clear understanding of each but also practical takeaways that can be utilized by organizations to be better positioned and protected from missteps. Core employment law regulations include: Title XII of the Civil Rights Act, The Americans with Disabilities Act, the recent PWFA & PUMP Acts), Family Medical Leave Act as well as a look at EEOC Cases, the agency's focus in the coming months/years in addition to the latest updates in employment law.
SPEAKER: Brian Aslin, Attorney at Law, Jackson Lewis P.C.
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate!
9:45 AM - 12:15 PM
558.259 (c) (1)
This interactive session will keep participants engaged while providing a comprehensive review of Chapter 558 Licensing Standards for Home and Community Support Services Agencies (HCSSAs). It will cover the required content from the Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 250 and Chapter 142, emphasizing how these standards apply to administrators to ensure compliance with licensing requirements.
SPEAKERS: Jennifer Elder, Director of Regulatory Affairs, TAHC&H and Grace Werckle, BSN, RN, Home Care Education Nurse Manager, Texas Association for Home Care & Hospice
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 2.5 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 2.5 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
1:30pm -4:00pm
*3A. HCSSA Regulatory Compliance for Administrators: Part 2
558.259 (c) (2) (A) (B) & (G)
This session on Regulatory Compliance will challenge your knowledge of critical topics, including the Nurse Aide Registry, Criminal History Checks for employees and applicants in facilities serving the elderly or persons with disabilities, the Texas Human Resources Code, Chapter 102 – Rights of the Elderly, OSHA regulations, and more!
SPEAKERS: Jennifer Elder, Director of Regulatory Affairs, TAHC&H and Grace Werckle, BSN, RN, Home Care Education Nurse Manager, TAHC&H
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 2.5 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 2.5 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
Advanced Track
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
1B. Advanced Concepts in Risk Management
This presentation will cover the Texas Advance Directives Act as it applies to Home Care, Hospice and providers in general. It will cover necessary policies and procedures as well as risk management. At the end of the session, participants will have a better understanding of the law and updates and how to navigate the specifics of Texas and Federal law on the subject.
SPEAKER: Jennifer Papapanagiotou, Esq., Liles Parker PLLC and Rosalind J. Nelson-Gamblin, RJNG Health Care Consulting, LLC
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
9:45 AM - 11:00 AM
2B. Advanced Employment Law Session
558.259 (c) (2) (C) (D) (E) (F)
In this informative session, Brian Aslin, will not only review the key tenets of several important employment law regulations of core employment law regulations including: Title XII of the Civil Rights Act, The Americans with Disabilities Act, the recent PWFA & PUMP Acts), Family Medical Leave Act but will also share advanced situations and issues involving 1099 audits, DOL issues with Overtime required changes.
SPEAKER: Brian Aslin, Jackson Lewis Ogletree Deakins
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 1.25 clock hours Administrator/Alternate
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
2C. Advanced Concepts in Leadership
What does your functioning cost your team? This session looks at the cost of functioning from the leadership seat: what it takes from you, and what it takes from your direct reports and the rest of your staff. Leaders will leave with tools to recognize burnout in themselves, including the kind that doesn't look like burnout, assess their own capacity, and carry what they learn down to the people who work for them.
SPEAKER: Lauren Tobey, Founder of The Cost of Functioning and author of Spiraling Into Control
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate
1:30 PM - 2:45 PM
3B. Advanced Concepts in Budgeting & Financial Management
Session description coming soon!
SPEAKER: TBD
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 1.25clock hours Administrator/Alternate
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
3C. Advanced Concepts in Supervision: A Look thru the Magnifying Glass
Session description coming soon!
SPEAKER: Rosalind J. Nelson-Gamblin, RJNG Health Care Consulting, LLC
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate
*2A. HCSSA Regulatory Compliance for Administrators: Part 1
NOVEMBER 17
Core Program
Standard Track
8:15 AM -9:45 AM
*4A. Complaint, Investigation and Resolution
558.259 (d)(3)(4) (5)
This session will cover client rights, including the right to confidentiality and Agency Responsibilities for complaints and for advance directives. Attendees will learn to improve the effectiveness and consistency of managing complaints and how to use quality assessment/performance improvement (QAPI) to manage and reduce such complaints, develop person-centered approaches and explain how perception can be an ally or foe in reducing client complaints.
SPEAKER: Rosalind J. Nelson-Gamblin, RJNG Health Care Consulting, LLC
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 1.5 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.5 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
Advanced Track
8:15 AM -9:45 AM
4B. Advanced Concepts in Workforce Development
What does it cost to be a caregiver? Recruitment, retention, and training all come back to whether your agency recognizes and acknowledges the cost direct service workers pay to do this work. This session names the silent overcapacity your staff is carrying, and why fine and functioning aren't the same as okay. Helping someone widen their capacity is the best retention strategy you have.
SPEAKER: Lauren Tobey,Founder of The Cost of Functioning and author of Spiraling Into Control
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 1.5 clock hours Administrator/Alternate
Standard Track
10:00 AM -11:30 AM
*5A. Emergency Preparedness
558.259 (d)(6)
Emergency Preparedness is an essential part of providing quality care to patients and ensuring your agency is prepared when an emergency event strikes. In this session you will learn the elements required in the emergency preparedness and response plan as outlined in the Texas licensing regulations. Discover how to be compliant with Emergency Preparedness including: policies and procedures, risk assessment, communication plan, training and testing, and documentation of any actual events. This presentation will also include strategies for ongoing compliance for survey readiness.
SPEAKER: Lisa McClammy, RN, MAC Legacy
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 1.5 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.5 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
Advanced Track
10:00 AM -11:30 AM
5B. Advanced Concepts in AI
Session description coming soon!
Speaker: TBD
Continuing Education: 1.5 clock hours Administrator/Alternate
Standard Track
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
*6A. Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation
558.259 (d) (7)
What is self-reporting and how can an agency stay in compliance with the HCSSA minimum standards? We will discuss state expectations listed in the Texas Administrative Code for agency investigations and provide a detailed, step-by-step process for reporting incidents
of abuse, neglect and exploitation by an employee, volunteer or contractor according to the requirements. We will further discuss the agency's better practices to mitigate citations and costly enforcement action through a total incident management system:
from policy implementation to actions taken to prevent client harm.
SPEAKER: Rosalind J. Nelson-Gamblin, RJNG Health Care Consulting, LLC
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 1.5 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.5 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
Advanced Track
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
6B. Advanced Concepts in Quality
This interactive session provides a guide to developing a sustainable culture of quality. Participants will discover moving beyond mere compliance to a state where excellence is a shared value and a natural part of everyone's day to day. We will explore the critical elements of a strong quality culture, including bought-in leadership, transparent communication, and continuous improvement. Through practical hands-on exercises, attendees will gain actionable insights for assessing their current culture and creating a strategic action plan. This workshop is designed for leaders, managers, and quality professionals who are ready to transform their organization and build a sustainable advantage through quality.
SPEAKER: J’non Griffin, RN, MHA, HCS-D, HCS-O COS-C, HCS-H, HCS-C, SVP Coding and OASIS/Compliance, SimiTree
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 1.5 clock hours Administrator/Alternate
Standard Track
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
*7A. Infection Control Updates
558.259 (d) (8)
This presentation will discuss the current and updated regulatory requirements for infection control for HCSSAs, including the impacts of the multiple changes that have taken place since the suspension of the PHE. The session offers tips and tools for you to use as you tackle the ongoing challenge of staying compliant while educating staff, patients and caregivers about this critical requirement, including don't miss information from state and federal regulations.
Speaker: Lisa McClammy, RN, MAC Legacy
Continuing Education: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
Advanced Track
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
7B. Advanced Concepts in Ethical Practices
Join noted speaker, Heidi Kocher, attorney from Liles Parker PLLC, as she tackles the sensitive issues of ethical practices in the healthcare industry. Heidi will touch base on fraudulent business behaviors, both operationally and clinically, as well as issues surrounding upcoding, staffing ratios, clinicians not turning in notes and lastly, agencies being compliant with their compliance plan, etc. Business owners and leaders must practice ethically and can’t afford to miss this informative session.
SPEAKER: Heidi Kocher Esq., J.D., M.B.A., C.H.C. Liles Parker PLLC
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
Standard Track
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
*8A. Fraud, Waste & Abuse
558.259 (d) (1)
Home care and hospice providers face a daunting array of complex laws and regulations, with non-compliance potentially resulting in a host of criminal charges, civil sanctions and administrative enforcement actions. This session will review relevant federal and state laws pertaining to fraud, waste and abuse, recent enforcement activity, and focus on tips for improving agency compliance programs.
SPEAKER: Jennifer Papapanagiotou, Esq., Liles Parker PLLC
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
Advanced Track
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
8B. Advanced Concepts in Strategic Planning-
In today’s competitive healthcare landscape, referral relationships are no longer built on clinical quality alone—they’re won by clearly demonstrating value. This strategic planning session equips home health and hospice leaders with a framework to use data effectively in crafting customized value propositions for each referral source. Participants will explore how to align internal performance metrics with the specific priorities of hospitals, SNFs, ACOs, and physician groups.
Attendees will learn how to:
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Understand how to use market data to identify trends for specific referral sources within each county that they service
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Identify key metrics that matter to different referral partners (e.g., readmission rates, quality measures, LOS, satisfaction scores)
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Segment referral sources and tailor value messaging accordingly
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Turn performance data into compelling, growth-focused conversations
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Set strategic goals that tie data insights to referral growth initiatives
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SPEAKER: J’non Griffin, RN, MHA, HCS-D, HCS-O COS-C, HCS-H, HCS-C, SVP Coding and OASIS/Compliance, SimiTree
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate;
NOVEMBER 18
Specialty Program
8:15 AM -9:15 AM
MEDICARE TRACK
M1. CY2027 Home Health Proposed Rule Overview
Join noted industry experts Lisa Selman-Holman, JD, BSN, RN, HCS-D, COS-C, McBee Associates, and M. Aaron Little, CPA, Forvis Mazars, who will give us an overview of the 2026 Home Health Medicare Final Rule. Agencies will have a better understanding of the potential impact the final rule will have operationally and financially and what steps should be taken to prepare. Don’t miss this overview as it will prepare you for the subsequent breakout sessions that will then guide you through the details of the final rule both operationally and financially.
SPEAKERS: Lisa Selman-Holman, JD, BSN, RN, HCS-D, COS-C, VP Clinical Services, McBee and M. Aaron Little, CPA, Managing Director, Forvis Mazars – Home Care & Hospice
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
HOSPICE TRACK
H1. The Hospice Final Rule 2027 – What’s Changing and What It Means for You
Get ready to unpack the big shifts ahead for hospice care in 2027! This session dives deep into the CMS Hospice Final Rule, breaking down the financial, operational, and compliance changes that every hospice leader needs to understand now. We’ll explore how reimbursement updates, wage index adjustments, and evolving quality reporting expectations will shape the year ahead—and, more importantly, how your organization can turn these changes into strategic opportunities. Walk away with actionable insights, tools, and strategies to strengthen your agency’s financial performance, ensure compliance, and stay ahead of the curve as CMS continues to refine hospice oversight.
You’ll Learn How To:
• Decode key provisions of the 2027 Hospice Final Rule and their real-world implications.
• Align operations and financial practices with the latest CMS updates.
• Build an action plan that positions your hospice for success and sustainability in 2027 and beyond.
SPEAKER: Brian Lebanion, BC Healthcare Consulting
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
All HCSSAs TRACK
A1. 26 TAC Chapter 558 Modernization: What HCSSA Administrators Need to Know About the Proposed Rules
Texas HHSC has proposed extensive amendments to 26 TAC Chapter 558 affecting HCSSAs across provider categories. The proposal addresses much more than technical cleanup, with potential changes involving agency administration, staffing and employability, abuse, neglect and exploitation, electronic records and communications, teleservices, client care, quality improvement, surveys, enforcement, and category-specific requirements. This session will begin with where the rule package stands in the rulemaking process at the time of the conference and what administrators should—and should not—assume before final rules are adopted. Participants will then receive a practical overview of significant proposed changes, including selected language administrators may not yet have reviewed themselves. The discussion will move beyond “what changed” to consider what implementation could mean for agency policies, personnel practices, documentation, training, service delivery, oversight, and day-to-day administration. The session will also identify provisions that may strengthen HCSSA operations as well as those that could present practical implementation challenges, helping administrators begin thinking strategically about operational readiness without prematurely treating proposed language as final regulation.
SPEAKER: Rosalind J. Nelson-Gamblin, RJNG Health Care Consulting, LLC
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate;
9:30AM - 10:30AM
MEDICARE TRACK
M2. CY2027 Home Health Final Rule: What’s Changing and How to Stay Ahead: Key VBP Updates You Can’t Afford to Miss
Session description coming soon!
SPEAKER: Lisa Selman-Holman, JD, BSN, RN, HCS-D, COS-C, VP Clinical Services, McBee
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
HOSPICE TRACK
H2. Hospice CAP Mastery – Protecting Your Bottom Line Before It’s Too Late
The Hospice Aggregate CAP isn’t just a compliance requirement—it’s a financial risk that can make or break your agency’s year-end performance. In this high-impact session, we’ll take a practical, data-driven look at how to monitor, manage, and minimize CAP exposure before it becomes a costly problem.
You’ll learn proven techniques for forecasting CAP trends, identifying risk early, and using analytics to drive confident decision-making. Whether you’re new to CAP or looking to refine your financial strategy, this session will equip you with the insights and tools to stay compliant, in control, and profitable.
You’ll Learn How To:
• Break down CAP calculations and self-determination with confidence.
• Implement proactive monitoring to catch potential overages early.
• Use CAP data to guide smarter financial and operational strategies.
SPEAKER: Brian Lebanion, BC Healthcare Consulting
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
All HCSSAs TRACK
A2. Employability in Practice: SEMARC, Background Checks, and the Administrator’s Responsibility
Employability is not a one-time hiring task. HCSSA administrators are responsible for ensuring that agency screening practices remain current, documented, and consistently implemented throughout employment. Proposed changes to 26 TAC Chapter 558 would expand and clarify requirements related to SEMARC, the Nurse Aide Registry, the Medication Aide Registry when applicable, criminal history checks, personnel documentation, and ongoing verification of employability. This session examines employability as an ongoing administrative responsibility, from pre-employment screening through continued monitoring after hire. Participants will review the role of SEMARC and other required searches, documentation expectations, policy considerations, and the operational response when new information raises concerns about an employee, volunteer, or contractor’s continued eligibility to work. The discussion will also address the risks created when agency policy and actual practice do not align, and why administrators must carefully evaluate the consequences of changing screening frequency or other internal safeguards simply to reduce operational burden.
The goal is to help administrators build an employability process that is compliant, defensible, consistently applied, and responsive when new information becomes available.
SPEAKERS: Rosalind J. Nelson-Gamblin, RJNG Health Care Consulting, LLC
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate
10:45AM - 11:45AM
MEDICARE TRACK
M3. CY2027 Home Health Final Rule: A Financial Deep Dive
This session will dive into the financial aspects of the home health Medicare final payment rule for 2027, including a deep dive of those issues that most directly impact financial health, including payment rate changes, wage-index adjustments, and VBP. Additionally, this session will share relevant financial benchmarks important to the financial health of your home health operations.
SPEAKER: M. Aaron Little, CPA, Managing Director, Forvis Mazars – Home Care & Hospice
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
HOSPICE TRACK
H3. Hospice Audits and Documentation
Being prepared for a hospice medical review audit regardless of type such as TPE, PPEO, SMRC, UPIC or RAC will ensure timely submission of documents and protect your agency’s bottom line. From pre-payment denials to post-payment recoupment of payments, this session will cover all types of medical review audits and provide documentation “must”, tips and guidance to “audit proof” your claims.
SPEAKER: Melinda Gaboury, COS-C, Chief Executive Officer, Healthcare Provider Solutions
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
All HCSSAs TRACK
A3. Program Integrity Initiative Updates
Session description coming soon.
SPEAKERS: Jennifer Papapanagiotou, Esq., Liles Parker PLLC and Heidi Kocher Esq., J.D., M.B.A., C.H.C. Liles Parker PLLC and Rosalind J. Nelson-Gamblin, RJNG Health Care Consulting, LLC
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate
12:00PM - 1:00PM
MEDICARE TRACK
M4. The 2027 Home Health Landscape: How the Final Rule Impacts Your Agency
As the home health industry faces a significant rate change, agencies must understand how the change will impact them and how to adapt financially and operationally to remain successful. In this session, Lisa Selman-Holman and M. Aaron Little will provide a comprehensive overview of the CY2027 Final Rule and its implications for your agency.
SPEAKERS: Lisa Selman-Holman, JD, BSN, RN, HCS-D, COS-C, VP Clinical Services, McBee and M. Aaron Little, CPA, Managing Director, Forvis Mazars – Home Care & Hospice
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
HOSPICE TRACK
H4. Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP)
This session will describe the components of the Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP) and the financial impact for hospice providers who do not meet the reporting requirements. Discussion will include the HOPE assessment including how it’s going with the new quality measures, data submission requirements, guidance to changes on HCAHPS questions and tips to ensure the compliance threshold is met.
SPEAKER: Melinda Gaboury, COS-C, Chief Executive Officer, Healthcare Provider Solutions
CONTINUING EDUCATION: 1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate; 1.0 contact hours Continuing Nursing Education
All HCSSAs TRACK
A4. Marketing Best Practices: A Legal and Operational Look
Session description coming soon.
SPEAKER: Heidi Kocher Esq., J.D., M.B.A., C.H.C. Liles Parker PLLC and Lauren Tobey, Founder of The Cost of Functioning and author of Spiraling Into Control
CONTINUING EDUCATION:1.0 clock hours Administrator/Alternate