Provider Alert! HHS Primary Health Care Services Program

Date: August 3, 2021

Attention: Primary Care Providers

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: Texas Children’s Health Plan (TCHP) would like to remind providers of the Primary Health Care (PHC) Services Program made available from Health and Human Services (HHS). Primary Health Care Services Program works with clinic sites across Texas to ensure eligible Texas residents receive comprehensive primary health care services, to prevent, detect and treat health problems. The PHC Services Program serves men, women and children.

Services include:

• Health education
• Emergency services
• Family planning services
• Diagnosis and treatment
• Diagnostic testing, such as X-rays and lab services
• Preventive health services, including immunizations

Who Is Eligible for Services?
The program is available to anyone who:

• Is a Texas resident
• Has an income level at or below 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines.
• Not a beneficiary of other non-HHSC programs or benefits that provide the same services

For more information: https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/health/primary-health-care-services-program

How this impacts providers: To become a Primary Health Care Services Provider go to Vendor and Contractor Information page.

Program Guidance: State Primary Health Care rules governing the activities of the Texas Department of State Health Services and contracted providers for the Primary Health Care Program can be found in Chapter 31 of the Texas Health and Safety Code and Title 25 of the Texas Administrative Code.

For information on program authorization, services, and definitions and more visit PHC Policy Manual and Rules.

Next steps for providers: Providers should refer eligible individuals seeking health care beyond their practice limitations to the Primary Health Care Services Program. For locations visit: Office of Primary and specialty Health Service Locator.

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.