Texas Health Steps
Provider Services

Checkups and a Whole Lot More!

• Laboratory Services

All laboratory work required during a THSteps check-up is to be performed by the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Laboratory. DSHS makes these services and testing supplies available free of charge to all enrolled THSteps medical providers for THSteps eligible children. For more information, please visit the DSHS Laboratory website.



• Missed-Appointment Assistance

Missed medical and dental appointments create office management problems and waste valuable provider resources and time. To assist providers enrolled in THSteps with this problem, the THSteps Program provides free of charge a follow-up service for contacting THSteps recipients who fail to keep appointments. For assistance with missed appointments, providers should complete a Missed Appointment Form and fax it to Texas Access Alliance who will then contact recipients to determine what prevented them from keeping the appointment (lack of transportation, child care, money for gasoline, etc.). THSteps staff work to resolve these issues, and coach recipients and their caretakers on the importance of keeping all appointments and calling their provider in advance to reschedule or cancel appointments if they are unable to appear as scheduled. For more information regarding missed appointment assistance, please contact your local regional THSteps Provider Relations staff.



• Provider Relations Services

Locally field-based Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership (TMHP) Medicaid Provider Relations Representatives are available to assist and train Medicaid providers. These Provider Relations Representatives provide education and training on claims submission for new and existing Medicaid providers. Technical support and training also are provided for TDHconnect software users. To find how and where to request this type of assistance and training, visit the TMHP Regional Support web page. In addition regionally-based Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Texas Health Steps (THSteps) Provider Relations Representatives are available to respond to Medicaid providers' questions and problems. To find how and where you may request this type of assistance, visit the DSHS THSteps Regional web page.



• Texas Vaccines for Children Program

The Texas Vaccines for Children Program is a federally funded, state-operated vaccine distribution program. It provides vaccines free of charge to providers to administer to all children except those (1) who have insurance that pays for immunization services, and (2) whose parents or guardians are able to pay for immunization services. A $5 administration fee is paid to providers for immunizations given during a THSteps check-up or as part of a follow-up visit. For more information, please call the DSHS Immunization Division at 800-252-9152 or visit the Immunization Division website.