Federal Public Health Emergency Set to End May 11, 2023 – Update on COVID Flexibilities

Date: March 21, 2023

Attention: All Providers

Call to action:  The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has received notice that the COVID-19 federal public health emergency (PHE) declared January 31, 2020, will end on May 11, 2023. In response to the PHE, HHSC implemented certain flexibilities for Texas Children’s Health Plan and other managed care organizations (MCOs) and dental maintenance organizations (DMOs), providers and members, and has issued guidance through MCO Notices with dates to reflect when that guidance is set to expire.

How this impacts providers: Flexibilities ending May 11, 2023, include the following:

• Case Management for Children and Pregnant Women (CPW) COVID-19 Flexibilities
• Remote Delivery of THSteps Medical Checkups
  For a full description of the visit components and billing information visit the link to the provider alert:

• Telephone (Audio-only) Nutritional Counseling Services Ending at End of PHE
• Spell of Illness Extension for COVID-19-Related Inpatient Hospital Claims
• Waived CHIP Co-pays for Medical Office Visits
• Provider Enrollment Revalidation Extensions

Resources: Medicaid and CHIP Services Information for Providers
Stakeholder update: COVID-19 Medicaid and CHIP Flexibility Extensions and End of PHE Notices

Next steps for providers: Providers should prepare their staff for the end of the public health emergency effective May 11, 2023.

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.