Texas Department of State Health Services

Overview

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) provides several services including: Disease prevention, Health care professional licensing, and Birth and death certificates. The DSHS team includes regional social workers and eligibility staff. They work with HHSC to support the Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) Services Program. To apply for the CSHCN Services Program, contact your local DSHS office.

Texas Department of State Health Services

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Children With Special Health Care Needs Services Program 

The Children With Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) Services Program is a health care benefits program managed by HHSC. The program also partners with local, community-based organizations. 

These local organizations provide a variety of services. They include case management, parent support, information and referrals, respite, education and training.

The CSHCN Services Plan serves the following people if they’re eligible:

• Children under the age of 21 with disabilities or special health care needs. The child must have a medical problem that has physical symptoms. This means the program doesn’t cover clients with solely a mental, behavioral or emotional condition, or a delay in development.
• People of any age with cystic fibrosis.

The CSHCN Services Plan provides coverage for:

• Medical, dental and mental health care.
• Medications.
• Special therapies, such as physical or occupational therapy.
• Case management services that can help with school meetings, transitioning to adulthood and finding a medical home.
• Family support services, such as home or car modifications, respite care or paying for child care.
• Travel expenses for health care visits.
• Health insurance costs.

Visit the CSHCN Services Program website to see if your child can get program services.

CSHCN Services Program is the payer of last resort. That means it pays for services only after any other insurance coverage pays. You must also apply for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). 

You can learn more about these programs on the Health Care Benefit Programs and Insurance for Children With Disabilities page. If your child receives Medicaid or CHIP, you may still be able to get help from CSHCN Services Program. It will only cover services that Medicaid and CHIP don’t.

To apply for the CSHCN Services Program

Call or visit your local DSHS office and request to speak with a CSHCN eligibility specialist. They will help you complete your application and submit it for processing.

You can also call 800-252-8023 for general questions about the program.

When you apply for the CSHCN Services Program you will be asked to provide:

• The CSHCN Services Program application form.
• Proof of resident address.
• Proof of date of birth.
• Proof of family income.
• Paperwork or identification cards for any other health insurance.
• A CSHCN Provider Assessment Form that your child’s doctor or dentist fills out with a diagnosis and what the program calls a determination of “urgent need for service.” This form must be signed by your child’s doctor or dentist.

Learn more about the documents you’ll need on the CSHCN Program application form.

Enrollment in the CSHCN Services Program

The CSHCN Services Program often has a waiting list for health care benefits. New clients can’t receive health care benefits until they are removed from the waiting list. Clients on the waiting list can still get case management services at any time from a community-based contractor or a DSHS social worker in your area.

Once your child is enrolled, it’s important to fill out the renewal paperwork every 12 months with your local DSHS office. This determines your continuing eligibility. Otherwise, your child may be removed from the program and placed back on the CSHCN Services Program waiting list.