Appendix XII, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Training and Competency Test

Revision 19-2; Effective June 5, 2019

1. Requirement to Train Staff Members, Service Providers, and Volunteers

As required by program rule, a Home and Community-based Services (HCS) Program provider must ensure their staff members, service providers and volunteers are:

  1. trained on:
    • acts that constitute abuse, neglect and exploitation;
    • signs and symptoms of abuse, neglect and exploitation; and
    • methods to prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation; and
  2. knowledgeable of:
    • acts that constitute abuse, neglect and exploitation;
    • signs and symptoms of abuse, neglect and exploitation; and
    • methods to prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation; and
  3. instructed to report to Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) immediately, but not later than one hour, after having knowledge or suspicion that an individual has been, or is being, abused, neglected or exploited by:
  4. provided with these instructions described in paragraph c of this section, in writing.

2. Optional Computer-Based Training and Competency Test

An HCS Program provider has the option of having their staff members, service providers and volunteers complete the Health and Human Services Commission’s (HHSC’s) ANE Competency Training. The completion of the computer-based training by employees, agents, and subcontractors meets the requirement in Section 1a of this appendix.

If staff members, service providers and volunteers complete HHSC’s ANE Competency Final Test, they must receive a score of at least 80 percent.

The completion of the competency test by staff members, service providers and volunteers meets the requirement in Section 1b of this appendix.

Staff members, service providers and volunteers must first sign up on the Learning Portal to have access to HHSC approved trainings, including this ANE training, entitled ANE Competency Training and Exam (online). The ANE training is found in Medicaid Long Term Services and Supports Training under the Health and Human Services Commission Courses tab.

Link to the Learning Portal homepage: https://learningportal.hhs.texas.gov/

3. Documentation Requirements

Program providers must maintain records documenting staff members, service providers and volunteers have received training on ANE. If using HHSC’s ANE Competency Training as evidence of ANE training, the HCS program provider must maintain a copy of the certificate generated from the HHSC’s ANE Competency Final Test for each staff member, service provider and volunteer. The program provider must maintain training records in accordance with 40 TAC §49.307 Record Retention and Disposition.