Provider Alert! MDCP Interest List Releases postponed through COVID-19 Disaster Declaration Period

Attention: STAR Kids Providers
Effective Date: June 26, 2020

The content in this message will remain in effect throughout the COVID-19 Disaster Declaration period as announced by the office of the Texas Governor, Greg Abbott. COVID-19 Utilization Management Procedure and provider alerts can be found here: http://www.thecheckup.org/provider-alerts/

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: TCHP supports the Health and Human Services Commissions’ (HHSC) decision to postpone interest list releases though the Disaster Declaration Period.

How this impacts providers:

• HHSC is permitting service-planning activities that can be completed through telehealth or telephone.
• Conducting assessments for medical necessity using the STAR KIDS Screening and Assessment Instrument (SK-SAI) are not permitted through telehealth or telephone at this time.
• For interest list release, referrals currently pending, if TCHP has not conducted an in-person SK-SAI or an in person or telehealth/telephone Individual Service Plan (ISP), HHSC will extend our timeframe through the Disaster Declaration Period.
• For interest list releases for which TCHP has completed an in person SK-SAI or an in person or telehealth/telephone ISP, Program Support Unit (PSU) will process all cases according to current policy.

Next steps for providers: No action required.

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