Texas Children's Health Plan will be closed on Thursday, December 25th and Thursday, January 1st in observance of the holidays. In our absence, you can reach our after-hours nurse help line at 1-800-686-3831. We will resume normal business hours on Friday, January 2nd. Wishing you a safe and happy holiday season!
Texas Children’s Health Plan estará cerrado el jueves 25 de diciembre y el jueves 1 de enero en observancia de los días festivos. Durante este tiempo, puede comunicarse con nuestra línea de ayuda de enfermería fuera del horario de atención al 1-800-686-3831. Reanudaremos nuestro horario normal de atención el viernes 2 de enero. ¡Le deseamos una temporada de fiestas segura y feliz!
SNAP Update and ResourcesActualización y recursos de SNAP
On November 1, 2025, the requirements to receive and apply to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits have changed. To see the new policies to request SNAP benefits, click here and/or call 211 for SNAP assistance. Learn more
El 1 de noviembre de 2025, cambiaron los requisitos para recibir y aplicar para los beneficios del Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria (SNAP, por sus siglas en inglés). Para consultar las nuevas políticas para aplicar para los beneficios de SNAP, haz clic aquí o llama al 211 para obtener ayuda de SNAP. Aprende Más
Transportation UpdateActualización de transporte
SafeRide Health (SRH) is the new provider for all NEMT rides to doctor appointments and pharmacy visits.
Depending on your needs, rides may include wheelchair-lift-equipped vehicles, stretcher vans, minivans, or ambulatory vans. Please let SRH know what type of ride you need when scheduling.
SafeRide Health (SRH) es el nuevo proveedor de todos los servicios de transporte médico que no son de emergencia (NEMT, por sus siglas en inglés) hacia consultas médicas y farmacias.
Según tus necesidades, los servicios de transporte pueden incluir vehículos con elevador para sillas de ruedas, camionetas con camilla, minivans o camionetas ambulatorias. Por favor, informa a SRH qué tipo de transporte necesitas al programar tu traslado.
Updates to the 2025 Newborn Screening Collection Kits
Date: July 7, 2025
Attention: All Providers
Call to action: The purpose of this communication is to inform providers of the updates to the 2025 Newborn Screening Collection Kits.
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Laboratory will start shipping the 2025 Newborn Screening (NBS) Collection Kits starting this week. The new kits will have serial numbers starting with 25 (25XXXXXXX).
What’s New in the 2025 NBS Collection Kits:
Replaced “Charity” with “Uninsured” on all pages of the Medicaid/CHIP/Uninsured Kits (NBS 3). Uninsured applies to patients without insurance or self-pay who do not qualify for coverage of NBS services through Medicaid, CHIP, or any other government program. Use this type of NBS Collection Kit for newborns eligible for Medicaid, covered by CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program), or without any other payment options as required in Texas Administrative Code, Title 25 section 37.55.
Changed the name of the “Parent Decision Form for Storage and Use of Newborn Screening Blood Spot Cards” to “Storage and Use of Newborn Screening Blood Spots” (page 2).
Replaced “Ambiguous” with “Unknown” in the Sex field under the Newborn Information section on the Demographic form (page 3).
Added “DO NOT COVER BARCODE” on the manila blood collection paper (page 5). This serves as a reminder to avoid placing labels over the barcodes.
Revised the Texas Newborn Screening Instructions (page 6):
Added “Apply only one blood drop to each circle” to Collection Procedure #4.
Updated Collection Procedure #8 to say, “If possible, ship dried specimen the same day as collection.”
Listed both the overnight courier address and USPS post office box side by side.
Added a QR code linking to the CLSI blood collection video. (Note: The QR code no longer works. Providers can view the video directly at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S51Y9ShD6HI )
Added the Laboratory contact email to use when ordering more NBS Collection Kits.
What Providers Should Do Now:
Continue using your current NBS Collection Kits until they expire.
Prepare the staff responsible for NBS collection for these upcoming changes so your team is ready when the new NBS Collection Kits arrive.
