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Model Application Template for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program

Effective Date:

Approval Date: 8 HHSC Office of the Ombudsman Texas Works Hotline (1-800-252- 9330) - The Hotline primarily handles complaints concerning Food Stamps, Medicaid or temporary cash assistance (TANF). However, when a client calls and relays information about potential eligibility, or inquires about programs for which they may be eligible, the client is referred to the correct local office or, if appropriate, to a designated regional contact.

HHSC Office of the Ombudsman (1-877-787-8999) - Clients and potential clients who call HHSC State Office are referred to the Office of the Ombudsman. Some of these calls may be from potential clients asking for instructions/assistance in applying for benefits. Callers are referred to local HHSC offices as appropriate.

Texas Medicaid Healthcare Partnership (TMHP) Client Hotline (1-800- 335-8957 and 1-800-252-8263) - The hotline handles Medicaid client issues pertaining to the status of Medically Needy cases, billing questions, and Medicaid program benefits, as well as contact information for the Medical Transportation Program, Texas Health Steps (Texas’ EPSDT program) services, and for HIPAA privacy violations.

Blue Pages Listings - Current information for local HHSC offices is contained in local telephone directories in the government blue pages section. This information is broken down by programs and is updated as needed.

Worldwide Web Sites - HHSC maintains an agency home page that contains information about what types of benefits are available throughout the agency and also contains links to home pages for each of the HHSC regions. The regional home pages contain listings of local offices, and the services available at each of the local offices.

Food Stamps – Individuals applying for food stamps are tested for eligibility for Medicaid during the same interview.

Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) - Individuals eligible for TANF are made Medicaid eligible by virtue of their certification for TANF. Those who apply and are determined ineligible for TANF are tested to determine their eligibility for Medicaid under other eligibility categories. Former TANF recipients receiving transitional Medicaid are sent an automated notice telling them to contact their local HHSC office if they wish to reapply for Medicaid when the transitional Medicaid ends.

Newborns of Medicaid Eligible Mothers - Enrollment in Medicaid is automatic for the majority of newborns of Medicaid-eligible mothers. When the medical facility notifies an HHSC centralized unit about the