Provider Alert! Families First Coronavirus Response Act Information

Attention: Financial Management Services Agencies and Consumer Directed Services employers

Effective Date: This rule is in effect April 2, 2020 to December 31, 2020.

Providers should monitor the Texas Children’s Health Plan (TCHP) Provider Portal regularly for alerts and updates associated to the COVID-19 event.  TCHP reserves the right to update and/or change this information without prior notice due to the evolving nature of the COVID-19 event.

Call to action: The United States Department of Labor (DOL) issued a temporary rule implementing the paid sick leave and expanded family medical leave provisions of the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), as amended by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The rule is effective from April 2, 2020, through December 31, 2020.

Reference: Rule published in the Federal Register on April 6, 2020.
How this impacts providers: Financial Management Services Agencies (FMSAs) and Consumer Directed Services (CDS) employers are required to comply with all applicable employment-related laws, including the Department of Labor (DOL) temporary rule and associated guidance about the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Detailed information about the employment-related laws and FFCRA guidance is available here:
Reference: HHSC Information Letter 2020-22

Next steps for providers: FMSAs are asked to make the necessary business operations adjustments to comply and to support the CDS employers they currently represent to make the business changes needed to adhere with the laws and regulations outlined in the HHSC information letter.

If you have any questions, please email Provider Network Management at: providerrelations@texaschildrens.org.
For access to all provider alerts, log into:
www.thecheckup.org or www.texaschildrenshealthplan.org/for-providers.