STARTERTexas · PPECC
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PPECC Starter Texas PPECC Requirements
Source-backed operating reference

Texas PPECC Requirements Library

Find the requirement, understand when it matters, and see the authority behind it — without losing the plain-language startup context. If the pack cannot validate, this page fails closed instead of publishing partial guidance.

29 requirements shown ·Pack 1.0.0 ·Reviewed June 5, 2026
01.01 02 · Establish
Founder / Entity Readiness

Financial Letter of Credit Requirement

The $250,000 letter of credit is a bank-issued financial instrument — not a cash reserve. Engage your bank early; LoC issuance lead time varies by institution.

HHSC PPECC Licensing Standards CBT
03.01 03 · License & enroll
Licensing Readiness

PPECC Statutory Authority

§§248A.001–248A.263

Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 248A
03.02 03 · License & enroll
Licensing Readiness

Mandatory CBT Pre-Requirement

Complete the HHSC PPECC CBT before applying — it is a hard prerequisite gate. Build CBT completion into your pre-application timeline, at least 30 days before your target application submission date.

HHSC PPECC Licensing Standards CBT
03.03 03 · License & enroll
Licensing Readiness

TULIP Portal Application Channel

All licensing paperwork flows through TULIP. Plan for portal registration, CBT completion, and document upload workflows. Paper or email applications are not accepted.

HHSC PPECC Licensing Standards CBT HHSC TULIP / Provider Portal Hub
03.04 03 · License & enroll
Licensing Readiness

Provisional vs. Standard License

§550.101 et seq. (chapter-level only)

26 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 550
03.05 03 · License & enroll
Licensing Readiness

PPECC Licensing Fee Schedule

Budget for the $2,625 initial application fee and a $250,000 letter of credit before applying. These are upfront capital requirements.

HHSC PPECC Licensing Standards CBT
04.01 04 · Build operations
Clinical Leadership Readiness

Medical Director Qualifications

The Medical Director requires active Texas licensure and current pediatric board certification — a general physician license without pediatric board cert does not satisfy this requirement.

26 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 550
04.02 04 · Build operations
Clinical Leadership Readiness

Nursing Director (DON) Qualifications

The DON is a full-time employment commitment — contractor or part-time arrangements do not satisfy this requirement. Hire a qualified DON before the HHSC initial survey.

26 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 550
05.01 04 · Build operations
Nursing Operations Readiness

Minimum Nursing Staffing Ratio

The 1:3 floor means census planning and staffing scheduling must be tightly coordinated. Operational models that assume flexible or lower ratios will not meet the standard.

26 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 550
05.02 04 · Build operations
Nursing Operations Readiness

Nursing Assessment Timing on Admission

The three-business-day nursing assessment window starts on admission. Workflows must ensure an RN completes the assessment within this window for every admitted minor.

26 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 550
06.01 04 · Build operations
Therapy / Rehabilitative Services Readiness

Therapy Session Documentation (TMHP Standard)

Therapy billing requires prior authorization and session documentation aligned with TMHP standards. Therapy providers must hold appropriate Texas licensure.

TMHP PPECC PA forms (F00124, F00142)
07.01 04 · Build operations
Admissions Readiness

PPECC Admissions Procedures

The admissions workflow must document physician orders, TMHP eligibility confirmation, and intake assessments per §550.604. Build a structured admissions checklist that tracks completion of each required element before care begins.

26 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 550
07.02 04 · Build operations
Admissions Readiness

PPECC Admission Age and Hours Criteria

§§248A.151–248A.152 (chapter-level only)

Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 248A
08.01 04 · Build operations
Plan-of-Care Readiness

Plan of Care — Physician Signature Timeline (HHSC Licensing Standard)

The POC workflow must track two separate physician signature timelines: the HHSC 30-day licensing standard (§550.607) and the TMHP CSHCN 14-day billing window (see TX-PPECC-POC-002). Conflating the two creates compliance risk.

26 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 550
08.02 04 · Build operations
Plan-of-Care Readiness

TMHP Verbal-PA 14-Day Physician Signature Window (CSHCN Billing Standard)

Tracking only one POC timeline misses the other. Design workflows to satisfy both: the HHSC 30-day licensing standard (TX-PPECC-POC-001) AND the TMHP 14-day billing window. Both are required; neither replaces the other.

TMHP CSHCN Services Program bulletins
08.03 04 · Build operations
Plan-of-Care Readiness

Transportation Stability Documentation in Plan of Care

The POC template must include a transportation stability section documenting how each minor's transportation to and from the PPECC is arranged. Older POC templates may not include this section — update before December 1, 2024 compliance baseline.

TMHP PPECC PA forms (F00124, F00142)
09.01 03 · License & enroll
Medical Records Readiness

Medical Records Content Requirements

Medical record design must satisfy §550.803 HHSC standards AND TMHP billing documentation requirements layered on top. Plan for a record structure that captures both sets of elements, attributed to their respective sources.

26 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 550
09.02 03 · License & enroll
Medical Records Readiness

Medical Records Retention Period

§550.1004 (chapter-level only)

26 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 550
10.01 04 · Build operations
QAPI Readiness

QAPI Program Requirement

A written QAPI program must exist before the PPECC opens — not after. The initial HHSC survey will look for evidence that a QAPI program is in place. Design your QAPI structure as part of pre-opening planning.

26 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 550
10.02 04 · Build operations
QAPI Readiness

QAPI Annual Evaluation and Data Requirements

QAPI is an ongoing process with structured data collection cadences — not a one-time setup document. Build quarterly data review cycles and an annual evaluation process into your operational calendar from day one.

26 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 550
11.01 04 · Build operations
Transportation Readiness

Transportation Log Requirements

Transportation log design must satisfy both the HHSC licensing standard (§550.1101) and the TMHP December 2024 billing documentation standards. A log meeting §550.1101 only may create billing documentation gaps. Build a unified log capturing all required elements from both sources.

26 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 550
11.02 04 · Build operations
Transportation Readiness

T2002 Transportation Billing Documentation

The transportation log (TX-PPECC-TRN-001) and POC transportation stability documentation (TX-PPECC-POC-003) form the billing evidence foundation for T2002 claims.

TMHP PPECC PA forms (F00124, F00142)
12.01 05 · Open & improve
Authorization / Payer Readiness

STAR Kids PA Required Documents

All three PA documents must be complete and signed before submission. Missing the nursing addendum or an unsigned F00122 are common PA rejection causes. Build your PA workflow to assemble all three documents before submission.

TMHP PPECC PA forms (F00124, F00142)
12.02 05 · Open & improve
Authorization / Payer Readiness

CSHCN vs. STAR Kids — Two Medicaid Channels

Enroll as a TMHP CSHCN provider AND contract with relevant STAR Kids MCOs before admitting the first Medicaid child. Dual-channel operations require separate billing and authorization processes.

TMHP CSHCN Services Handbook Chapter 33
12.03 05 · Open & improve
Authorization / Payer Readiness

TMHP PPECC Provider Enrollment

TMHP provider enrollment must be complete before billing CSHCN FFS claims. Begin PEMS enrollment concurrent with the HHSC licensing application process — not after licensure is received.

TMHP CSHCN Services Handbook Chapter 33 TMHP CSHCN Provider Enrollment
13.01 05 · Open & improve
Billing Evidence Readiness

Billing Code Structure — T1025 vs. T1026

Daily documentation must capture whether each service day exceeds four hours, because this determines which billing code applies. A model that does not distinguish service-day duration from the outset creates a billing-evidence gap from day one.

TMHP PPECC PA forms (F00124, F00142)
13.02 05 · Open & improve
Billing Evidence Readiness

CSHCN Annual 400-Hour Service Limit

Track each child's T1026 hour utilization against the 400-hour annual limit. Children who reach the CSHCN limit mid-year may require STAR Kids MCO authorization or alternatives. Build utilization tracking into the billing evidence workflow from day one.

TMHP CSHCN Services Handbook Chapter 33
14.01 05 · Open & improve
Survey / Inspection Readiness

HHSC Survey — Unannounced Inspection Process

Unannounced inspections mean operations must be continuously survey-ready — not only when an inspection is anticipated. Build survey-ready operations from day one: staffing ratios, documentation, QAPI program, and physical plant must meet standards at all times.

HHSC PPECC Inspection Process CBT
14.02 05 · Open & improve
Survey / Inspection Readiness

Plan of Correction — 10-Day Response Window

Deficiency citations require a documented corrective action response within 10 days. Be familiar with Form 3724 and have a clear escalation path for coordinating a timely plan of correction.

HHSC PPECC Inspection Process CBT
Optional continuation

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The public requirements library is complete without Harbor. The Harbor blueprint is a separate optional operating-system path.

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Planning awareness only — not legal, clinical, billing, reimbursement, architectural, or licensing advice. Verify every requirement against the cited source and qualified professionals.