Date: August 28, 2025
Attention: All Providers and Financial Management Services Agencies (FMSA)
Effective date: September 1, 2025
Call to action: Texas Children’s Health Plan (TCHP) would like inform providers that beginning September 1, 2025 the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is increasing identified attendant rates as authorized by the 2026-27 General Appropriations Act, Senate Bill 1, 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025 (Article II, HHSC, Rider 23).
The adopted rates are available on HHSC’s Provider Finance Department (PFD) webpage.
HHSC adopted the fee-for-service equivalent payment rates for STAR Kids and STAR Health – Medically Dependent Children Program (MDCP) Waiver and Non-MDCP; STAR+PLUS Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) and Non-HCBS, effective September 1, 2025.
Note: The attendant rate increases impact multiple direct care services.
Discontinuation of Rate Enhancement Programs
Pursuant to 2026-27 General Appropriations Act, Senate Bill 1, 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025 (Article II, HHSC, Rider 23 and Rider 25) and Senate Bill (S.B.) 457, 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, HHSC will end all direct care / attendant rate enhancement programs, including the following programs on August 31, 2025:
- Attendant Care Enhancement Program (ACEP)
- Direct Care Staff Rate Enhancement Program
- STAR Kids Attendant Care Enhancement Program.
Next step for Providers: Providers should reference HHSC’s Provider Finance Department (PFD) webpage and share this communication with their staff. Additionally, HHSC has published the Information Letter (IL) 2025-17 regarding the approved payment rates.
If you have any questions, please email Provider Relations at: providerrelations@texaschildrens.org.
For access to all provider alerts,log into:
www.texaschildrenshealthplan.org/provideralerts.
