Parent Authorization Rule Delayed

HHSC is delaying implementation of administrative rules that restrict the adults that a parent or guardian may authorize to accompany their child to Texas Health Steps visits or on rides provided the Medical Transportation Program.  Due to a recent court decision, HHSC will not begin enforcement of the rule as planned on April 1, 2013. Please be aware that the rule (§354.1133 of Title 1, Part 15 of the Texas Administrative Code) has not been repealed and HHSC may fully implement and enforce the rule at a later date.

For more information, call the TMHP Contact Center at 1-800-925-9126.

The Your Texas Benefits Medicaid Card: Information for Providers and Community Service Organizations

Providers can use the Your Texas Benefits Medicaid Card to verify a patient’s Medicaid eligibility. A person’s unique Medicaid ID number appears on the front of their card. That same number is embedded in a magnetic strip on the back of the card, accessible with a basic swipe-style card reader.
With the card, providers have a choice of ways to verify the person’s Medicaid eligibility:

• Swipe the card or enter the Medicaid ID number at the YourTexasBenefitsCard.com, a secure website where providers can verify eligibility, view patient Medicaid health history, and more.
• Use TexMedConnect on the Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership (TMHP) provider home page.
• Call the TMHP Contact Center at 1-800-925-9126.

YourTexasBenefitsCard.com Frequently Asked Questions

• FAQs for Release 1 (April 2011)
• FAQs for Release 2 (May 2012)

Community Service Organizations
Organizations that serve Medicaid clients (i.e., Head Start, Salvation Army, Women, Infants and Children [WIC], etc.) can still use the Medicaid ID number to determine a person’s active Medicaid status:

• Call the Provider Help Desk at 1-855-827-3747.
• Choose Option 3 at the voice prompt.
• Enter the person’s Medicaid ID number from the front of the card.
• Enter the person’s birth date.

For more information about the new Your Texas Benefits Medicaid card or the new Medicaid eligibility verification website, call 1-855-827-3747.

Texas Medicaid Wellness Program

The goal of the Texas Medicaid Wellness Program is to help clients with long-lasting or serious health conditions improve their health. People who get traditional fee-for-service Medicaid can join the wellness program. The program includes nurses, pharmacists, social workers, behavioral health specialists, dieticians, certified diabetes educators and community health workers. For more information on the Wellness Program, visit the Texas Medicaid Wellness Program web page.

IMPROVE Gives New Voice to Medicaid Providers

Attention Medicaid Providers: HHSC wants to hear from you. Do you have an idea, issue, recurring, or suggestion about Texas Medicaid?  If so, check out the IMPROVE system.

Additional Resources