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ALERT: Stay healthy this cold and flu season! Learn more

ALERTA: ¡Mantente sano durante esta temporada de influenza y resfriados! Más información

New Website! ¡Nuevo sitio web!

ALERT: We have made the Texas Children’s Health Plan website even easier to use! Click here to learn more.

ALERTA: ¡Ahora el sitio web de Texas Children’s Health Plan es aún más sencillo de usar! Haz clic aquí para más información.

Enfamil shortage updates Escasez de Enfamil Reguline

ALERT: Shortage of Enfamil products until October 31, 2024. Learn more.

ALERTA: Escasez de productos de Enfamil hasta el 31 de octubre de 2024. Más información.

Change Healthcare Incident Change Healthcare incidente

Provider Offices Are Eligible for Incentive with Completion of Appointment Accessibility Survey

Date: May 8, 2023

Attention: Primary Care and Specialist Providers

Launch timeframe: Summer 2023

Call to action: Texas Children’s Health Plan (TCHP) is excited to launch our annual Provider Appointment Accessibility this summer- this time with a new feature. Providers that complete the survey will be entered into a gift card drawing*. Winning practices will be contacted at the conclusion of the survey.

Background information: In 2015, Senate Bill 760 passed, requiring Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to monitor the provider networks of managed care organizations. TCHP would like to ensure members are able to schedule appointments with providers in accordance with the HHSC’s appointment accessibility guidelines. To accomplish this, we have partnered with SPH Analytics to conduct an appointment accessibility survey during this summer to verify that network providers meet the required standards.

How this impacts providers: TCHP enforces access and other network standards required by the contract and takes appropriate action with providers whose performance is determined by the health plan to be out of compliance. In addition, providers and staff are responsible for understanding the requirements.

*Please note, not all provider offices are surveyed. It is a random sample chosen by SPH Analytics.

Authorization reminder: Primary Care Providers, a reminder that a referral is not needed to see an

in-network specialist.

Appointment availability standards

PROVIDER TYPELEVEL/TYPE OF CAREAPPOINTMENT AVAILABILITY STANDARDS
OB/GYNEmergency servicesImmediately
 Urgent conditionWithin 24 hours
 Initial appointment for prenatal care14 days
 Initial prenatal care appointments for high-risk pregnancies or new members in third trimester (≥24 weeks)Initial appointment must be offered within 5 days, or immediately, if emergency exists
 Appointments for ongoing OB care must be available in accordance to treatment plan as developed by the providerMust be available in accordance to the treatment plan as developed by the provider
   
PRIMARY CARE Emergency servicesImmediately
PHYSICIANSUrgent conditionMust be provided within 24 hours
 Primary routine careWithin 14 days
 Preventive health services for Members 21 years of age or olderWithin 90 calendar days
 Preventive health services for members less than 6 months of ageOffered as soon as possible but no later than 14 days of enrollment for newborns
 Preventive health services for members 6 months through age 20Must be provided within 60 days
 New members 20 years of age or younger to receive a Texas Health Steps checkupWithin 90 days of enrollment
 CHIP Members should receive preventive care in accordance with American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)AAP Periodicity Schedule
   
SPECIALTY CAREEmergency servicesImmediately
 Urgent conditionMust be provided within 24 hours
 Specialty routine care21 days
   
BEHAVIORALEmergency servicesImmediately
HEALTHUrgent conditionWithin 24 hours
 Care for non-life threatening emergencyWithin 6 hours*
 Initial visit for routine careWithin 14 days*
 Follow-up routine careWithin 90 days*
 Initial outpatient behavioral health visit (Does not apply to CHIP Perinate members)Within 14 days
 Initial outpatient treatment after inpatient dischargeWithin seven (7) days from the date of discharge*

*For more information on behavioral health guidelines see the provider alert, http://www.thecheckup.org/2021/02/12/provider-alert-attention-behavioral-health-providers-and-inpatient-facilities/.

Next steps for providers: Providers should share the appointment availability standards with their staff and implement internal procedures for compliance, if needed.

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.