Co-pays for CHIP COVID-19 services will resume starting October 1, 2024

Date: June 21, 2024

Attention: All Providers

Effective Date: October 1, 2024

Call to action: Texas Children’s Health Plan (TCHP) would like to inform providers that beginning October 1, 2024, providers may begin collecting Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) co-pays for COVID-19 related services.

As you know, during the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) waived co-pays for COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and treatment for CHIP members. This waiver will end on September 30, 2024.

Important reminders regarding co-payment for CHIP members:

• Providers may not charge co-pays for mental health and substance use disorder outpatient office visits.Co-pays have been permanently removed for mental health and substance use disorder outpatient office visits to comply with federal regulations.

• CHIP co-pays that members must pay are determined based on their income.

• CHIP co-pays do not apply to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, CHIP Perinate and CHIP Perinatal newborn members.

Next step for Providers: Providers should share this update with their staff.

If you have any questions, please email Provider Relations at: providerrelations@texaschildrens.org.

For access to all provider alerts,log into:
www.thecheckup.org or www.texaschildrenshealthplan.org/for-providers.