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SFY 2027 CHIRP, DPP BHS, RAPPS, TIPPS, and QIPP Enrollment Deadline; Support for STEPS Users With an Active Help Ticket

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The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is issuing a reminder that the enrollment period for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2027 participation in the following Directed Payment Programs will close on March 5, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. CST.

  • Comprehensive Hospital Increase Reimbursement Program (CHIRP)
  • Directed Payment Program for Behavioral Health Services (DPP BHS)
  • Rural Access to Primary and Preventive Services Program (RAPPS)
  • Texas Incentives for Physicians and Professional Services (TIPPS)

The state fiscal year 2027 Quality Incentive Payment Program (QIPP) enrollment period will close on March 18, 2026, at 5 p.m. CST.

There will not be any extensions made to the enrollment periods.

Support for STEPS Users with an Active Help Ticket

HHSC is aware that there are a significant number of users of the State of Texas Electronic Provider System (STEPS) who have an active Help Ticket submitted requesting assistance with system issues that are preventing enrollment completion.  HHSC is aware of a data synchronization issue that is impacting providers who are attempting to update their Primary Contact in PEMS. HHSC will allow providers who have submitted a Help Ticket to the STEPS Help Desk and who have experienced a system defect that has prohibited enrollment completion to complete the enrollment once their system issue has been resolved, even if resolution occurs after the end of the enrollment period.  HHSC will allow the submission of the enrollment form after the enrollment deadline only for providers who meet the following criteria:

  • Before the applicable enrollment deadline, the Primary Entity Contact (PEC) has submitted a support ticket in the State of Texas Electronic Provider System (STEPS), or sent an email to costinformationpfd@hhs.texas.gov;
  • The ticket indicates the PEC is unable to see all associated National Provider Identification system (NPI) entities that are affiliated with the PEC when logging into STEPS.

HHSC will not allow for submission of an enrollment form after the deadline for providers who have not attempted to complete an enrollment and reported a system defect that prohibits them from completing submission.

HHSC will review tickets in the order received and make a determination based on the criteria identified above.

Important Reminders

  • Do not submit duplicate tickets. Multiple submissions delay response times for all providers.
  • If you have previously submitted a ticket and your issue has now been resolved, please notify HHSC by responding to the ticket in STEPS or replying to PFD Cost Information, stating we can close your ticket. This will allow HHSC to focus on others that still need assistance.
  • Ensure PEMS contact information reflects approved data, as only approved records are transmitted to STEPS. For additional information, please see step 5 of the STEPS User Guide (.pdf).

HHSC appreciates providers’ continued engagement and efforts to complete enrollment in a timely manner.

For questions about accessing the STEPS application, please email PFD Cost Information.

For questions about specific STEPS functionality or issues within the application, please submit a ticket via STEPS.

For PEMS related questions or issues (i.e. email address updates not saving), please contact THMP and submit a ticket as needed. PFD cannot submit tickets to TMHP for the provider.

For additional enrollment walkthrough assistance:

  • Call the TMHP Contact Center (800) 925-9126, or
  • TMHP-CSHCN Services Program Contact Center (800) 568-2413, or
  • Email TMHP to request assistance with enrollment maintenance

Program-specific questions may be directed to the appropriate Provider Finance email box.