Quick Reference Guide

For a printable PDF of our Provider Quick Reference Guide, please click here.

Customer Service

• Claim inquiry, questions, and information.
• Information about CHIP or STAR products.
• Eligibility/benefits questions on all products.

Phone: 832-828-1004
Toll free: 1-800-731-8527
Telephone TouCHPoint: 832-828-1007
Fax: 832-825-8750

Texas Children’s Health Plan Fraud and Abuse

Report Fraud, Waste and/or Abuse

Suspected fraud, waste or abuse (FWA) by recipients or providers can be reported to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and/or Texas Children’s Health Plan’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU).

Office of Inspector General: FWA Reporting
Website: https://oig.hhsc.texas.gov/report-fraud-waste-or-abuse

Texas Children’s Health Plan: FWA Reporting

Hotline Phone Number: 832-828-1320
Fax Number: 832-825-8722
Email: TCHPSIU@texaschildrens.org

Provider Relations

Inquiries regarding Texas Children’s Health Plan policies and procedures.

• Contract clarification/interpretation.
• Fee schedule inquiries.
• Change of address/phone number/tax identification number.
• Requests for supplies (forms, directories, etc.).
• Information on provider educational in-services.
• Requests for information on accessing Provider TouCHPoint, Texas Children’s Health Plan’s web-based provider portal for claims, authorizations, eligibility, and information.

Phone: 832-828-1004
Toll free: 1-800-731-8527
Fax: 832-825-8750
Website: www.TexasChildrensHealthPlan.org/For-Providers
Email: providerrelations@texaschildrens.org

Texas Children’s Health Plan Pharmacy Information

Navitus website: www.navitus.com
Navitus toll free provider hotline: 1-877-908-6023
Navitus customer care: 1-866-333-2757

Provider Portal

Texas Children’s® Link is our new platform that consolidates communications into one single, robust and powerful system! This new system is built to enhance collaboration between Texas Children’s® Health Plan staff, members and providers.

As a Texas Children’s Link user, you can:

• View Texas Children’s Health Plan member eligibility and benefits
• Manage referrals, orders and prior authorizations 
• Access patient clinical activity provided at Texas Children’s 
• Submit, review and appeal claims
• Manage your population

If you have questions regarding account access or training, please contact your Provider Liaison or call us at (832) 828-1004 (toll free 1-800-731-8527).

Cultural Sensitivity

Cultural sensitivity refers to the ability of individuals and systems to provide services effectively to people of all cultures, races, ethnic backgrounds, and religions in a manner that recognizes values, affirms and respects the worth of the individuals, and protects and preserves the dignity of each. Texas Children’s Health Plan’s interpretive services will help to provide care in culturally competent manner.

Texas Children’s Health Plan has a mechanism in place to allow Members with Special Health Care Needs to have direct access to a specialist as appropriate for the Member’s condition and identified needs, such as a standing referral to a specialty physician.

Envolve Vision

• CHIP: 1-844-520-3711
• STAR: 1-844-683-2305
• STAR Kids: 1-844-212-7269

Dental Services 

Care Coordination, Case, and Disease Management

Nurse Help Line

Claims Filing Information

Claims Appeals

Prior Authorizations

The prior authorization process is used to evaluate the medical necessity of a procedure, course of treatment, appropriate level of service, and length of stay prior to the provision of services. A copy of the prior authorization request form can be found in the Provider Manual. Prior authorizations should be requested 3 to 5 days prior to the scheduled date of service. Current services requiring authorization are listed below, but please check with Texas Children’s Health Plan Utilization Management at 832-828-1004, option 5 or Provider TouCHPoint at www.tchp.us/providers for updates to this list:
  

Medical Authorizations

1. All genetic testing
2. All out-of-network services
3. Ambulance services (non-emergent transport)
4. Augmentative Communication Devices
5. Baclofen injections/pump
6. Bariatric Surgery
7. Botox Injections
8. Chemotherapy non-FDA approved
9. Circumcision greater than 1 year of age
10. Cochlear Implant
11. Cosmetic Surgery
12. Cranial Molding Orthosis (Helmets)
13. Dental Medically necessary (except for cleft palate)
14. Gait trainer
15. Home Health Care
16. Hospital grade Blood Pressure Monitors in home use
17. Hospital Beds and accessories
18. Hospital Inpatient care
19. Makena Injections
20. Nutritional Supplements
21. Oral Surgery
22. Organ Acquisition
23. PET Scans
24. Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care Centers
25. Private Duty Nursing in home
26. Prosthetics
27. Skilled Nursing facility
28. SPECT Scans
29. TMJ diagnosis and treatment
30. Transplant Evaluation
31. Vision Care, medically necessary
32. Wheelchairs and accessories
      

  Behavioral Health Authorizations

1. All out-of-network services
2. Inpatient Care
3. Intensive Outpatient Treatment
4. Neuropsychological Testing (exceeding limits)
5. Outpatient Behavior Health visits greater than 30 (per Calendar year)
6. Partial Hospitalization
7. Psychological Testing (exceeding limits)
8. Residential Treatment Facility
9. Targeted Case Management
10. Substance Use Disorder Treatment (excluding assessment, outpatient treatment services unless limits exceeded, and Medication Assisted Treatment 

Utilization Management

Behavioral Health Authorizations

Referrals

Patients should be referred to in-network specialists. When Texas Children’s Health Plan members are referred for specialty care to an in-network specialist, it is not necessary to complete a referral form. Members may self-refer for in-network OB/GYN services, behavioral health, family planning, and any Texas Health Steps provider.

Imaging Services

It is not necessary to use a referral form for imaging services. Providers should refer members for imaging services.

Laboratory Services

Providers should refer members for laboratory services to our primary reference lab provider, Quest Diagnostics.

Phone Numbers for State Programs

• CHIP Help Line: 1-800-647-6558
• Early Childhood Intervention (ECI): 1-800-628-5115
• Family Planning Program: 512-458-7796
• Medicaid Program Member Verification (NAIS): 1-800-925-9126
• Medical Transportation Program (MTP): 1-877-MED-TRIP (633-8747)
• STAR Help Line: 1-800-964-2777
• STARLink Advocate for Medicaid: 1-866-566-8989
• Texas Health Steps: 1-877-847-8377
• Women, Infants & Children Program (WIC): 1-800-942-3678
• Vaccine for Children (VFC): 1-800-252-9152

Behavioral Health Hotline

Provider and Vendor Check Payments (Refunds)

Available online at www.tchp.us/providers/ or by contacting Provider Relations for a faxed copy.