Texas Health Steps - Public Health Region 1
Purpose
Texas Health Steps (THSteps) is the Texas name given to the federally mandated program known as EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment). It is a service of the Texas Medicaid program. THSteps provides preventive health care services at regular and periodic intervals to Medicaid clients who are from birth through 20 years of age.
Mission
The mission of Texas Health Steps (THSteps) is to expand client awareness of existing health services, to recruit and retain a qualified provider pool, and to ensure comprehensive services are available through public and private providers so that eligible young people in the Texas Health Steps client population can receive medical and dental care before health problems become chronic and irreversible.
Department of State Health Services, PHR 1 - Lubbock
Texas Health Steps Program
6302 Iola Avenue
Lubbock, TX 79424
Phone: 806-783-6445
Fax: 806-783-6455
Department of State Health Services, PHR 1 - Amarillo
Texas Health Steps Program
3407 Pony Express Way, Mail Code 5750
Amarillo, TX 79118
For THSteps-related questions, contact Josh Derby.
Contacts
Josh Derby, LBSW
Department of State Health Services-Reg. 01
Program Supervisor III- Texas Health Steps
6302 Iola Ave. Lubbock TX 79424
1(806)783-6445 OFFICE
1(806)407-2003 CELL
1(806)783-6455 FAX
joshua.derby@dshs.texas.gov
Ashley Mojica
Texas Health Steps Provider Relations Representative
Texas Department of State Health Services
6302 Iola Ave, Mail Code 1899
Lubbock, TX 79423
Office: 806-783-6446
Cell: 806-557-8595
Fax: 806-783-6455
Email: Ashley.Mojica@dshs.texas.gov
Frannie Nuttall
Texas Health Steps Provider Relations Representative
Texas Department of State Health Services
3407 Pony Express Way, Mail Code 5750
Amarillo, TX 79118
806-477-1128
806-340-9685
Frannie.nuttall@dshs.texas.gov
Case Management Providers
THSteps Case Management Providers
Rebecca Flores Williams LBSW-IPR
Case Management Supervisor
Department of State Health Services Region 01
6302 Iola
Lubbock, TX 79424
Office: 806-783-6442
Cell: 806-786-1888
Rebecca.williams@dshs.texas.gov
Online Provider Education
Texas Health Steps Online Provider Education offers a range of high-quality training opportunities to THSteps providers. This FREE training is designed to improve providers' ability to deliver comprehensive preventive health, mental health, dental, and case management services to Medicaid-eligible children from birth through 20 years of age.
THSteps Online Provider Education consists of several self-paced, web-based training modules. Each module is divided into sections, with an evaluation component following each section. These evaluations enable trainees to assess their knowledge as they complete each module. An online certificate of completion is issued after a trainee successfully completes an entire module.
Continuing education (CE) credits may be awarded to eligible participants after the successful completion of each module. Go to: http://txhealthsteps.com/
Services Include
DSHS Case Management
DSHS Case Managers ensure access to case management services for clients who are eligible for the following programs:
- Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN-SP)
- Case Management to Children receiving SSI
- Case Management for Children and Pregnant Women
- Assessments for Personal Care Services (PCS)
When no other case management system is available, the social workers provide the case managers directly. After assessing the medical, rehabilitative, developmental, educational, and social strengths and challenges of the child and family, a service plan is developed in partnership with the family to obtain needed services in the community. Our goal is to empower the family to meet their identified needs.
Case managers can assist with:
- Access to needed medical services
- Educational concerns
- Financial concerns
- Equipment and supplies
- Family problems
- Finding help in the local community
Other Case Management Services Activities:
- Community education
- Community presentations
- Interagency activities
- Community resource coordination groups
Case Management for Children and Pregnant Women
Case Management for Children and Pregnant Women provides services to children with a health condition/health risk, birth until 21 years of age, and to high-risk pregnant women of all ages, in order to encourage the use of cost-effective health and health-related care. Together, the case manager and family will assess the medical, social, educational, and other medically necessary service needs of the Medicaid-eligible recipient. The regional Coordinator recruits certifies, and trains qualified Case Management contractors who provide services for their approved area. They review prospective applicants and provide training, as well as ongoing technical assistance and quality assurance for providers who are approved by the department.
Children with Special Health Care Needs Services Program
The CSHCN Services Program (CSHCN-SP) is a health benefits program offered through the DSHS. This program provides special services or equipment for eligible children with certain health problems. A child can become eligible for CSHCN-SP if:
- The child lives in Texas
- The child is under age 21 or has cystic fibrosis
- The child has a coverable condition
- The family is within the income and asset limits
CSHCN-SP applicants must apply for Medicaid / Medically Needy Program, Medicaid Buy-In for Children (MBIC), and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and send copies of determinations to the regional DSHS office. If the child is NOT a U.S. citizen, a CHIP determination is not required.
CSHCN-SP will pay for such things as:
- Doctor visits
- Up to 60 days in the hospital
- Braces and artificial limbs
- Prescription drugs
- Special equipment
- Medical supplies
- Home health care
- Travel costs to medical appointments
CSHCN-SP Eligibility Staff enters applications submitted to obtain medical assistance through CSHCN Services Program. In the application process, the staff is required to verify documents, enter various proofs of residency and income, and work with families to assure that the process is completed.
Personal Care Services (PCS) Benefit
Personal Care Services is a medical benefit that provides assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) to help clients with physical, cognitive, or behavioral functional limitations related to a disability, physical or mental illness, or chronic condition.
Examples of Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
- Bathing
- Dressing
- Feeding
- Grooming
- Mobility
- Toileting/Toileting hygiene
- Transfers/Non-ambulatory movements
Examples of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)
- Housekeeping
- Laundry
- Meal preparation
- Money Management
PCS Does Not Include:
- Services when the client has the physical, cognitive, and behavioral abilities to perform the ADL or IADL
- Duplication of Medicaid services
- Nursing Care
- Respite care or childcare
Who Can Receive the Personal Care Services Benefit?
The PCS benefit is available to Texas Medicaid clients who
- Are 0-20 years of age
- Are enrolled with Texas Medicaid as THSteps clients
- Have physical cognitive or behavioral limitations related to a disability or chronic health condition that inhibits the client's ability to accomplish ADLs or IADLs.
If you have comments or suggestions, please contact us.
Case Management for Children and Pregnant Women (CPW) Program
Case Management for Children and Pregnant Women is a Medicaid benefit that provides health-related case management services to children birth through 20 years of age with a health condition and to high-risk pregnant women of any age. Case managers help clients gain access to needed medical, social, educational, and other services.
To request case management services, please call the Texas Health Steps Outreach and Informing Hotline at 1-877-THSTEPS (1-877-847-8377).
Children and Pregnant Women Providers
View Case Management Providers for Children and Pregnant Women by Region to see a current list of participating CPW providers.
The Children and Pregnant Women Program encourages social workers and registered nurses to become CPW providers.
Extra Help!
The THSteps toll-free line allows individuals to get information on Medicaid services and how to access them. By calling the toll-free number 1-877-THSTEPS (1-877-847-8377), a client can receive:
- Help finding a doctor or dentist
- Help setting up appointments
- Help getting a ride to a checkup
- Case management referrals
- Other needs as requested
Texas Health Steps Services
- Medical screening
- Dental checkups
- Immunizations
- Vision exams/services
- Hearing exams/aids
- Comprehensive care services
- Case management
- Laboratory services
Texas Health Steps Medical Checkups
Children need health checkups at:
Babies and toddlers:
- Newborn (before 5 days old)
- 2 weeks
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 9 months
- 12 months
- 15 months
- 18 months
- 2 years
- 2 ½ years
- 3 years
- 4 years
- 5 years
Older children, teens, and young adults (ages 6 to 20): Once a year.
Medical checkups include:
- Health history (family and neonatal included)
- Physical Examination
- Measurements (height and weight)
- Developmental M-CHAT Assessment
- Mental Health Assessment
- Immunizations
- TB Screening
- Laboratory Screening lead, STD, Hgb or Hct
- Sensory screening (vision and hearing)
- Health Education
THSteps Related Links
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- Insure Kids Now
- Medical Transportation Program
- Your Texas Benefits
- 2-1-1 Texas | Texas Health And Human Services Commission (211texas.org)
If you have comments or suggestions, please contact us.