Texas TMHP Provider Enrollment for Home Care Agencies: Step-by-Step Guide 2026

Every STAR+PLUS guide you read — including the ones on this site — mentions TMHP provider enrollment as a prerequisite. "Get your TMHP provider ID first." But most of those guides treat the enrollment process as a checkbox, not a workflow. They do not explain what TMHP is, what the application actually requires, where submitting common mistakes leads, or what you can and cannot do once enrollment is complete.

This guide closes that gap. It covers the TMHP enrollment process step by step, from prerequisites through first-day-active setup, written specifically for home care agencies applying for personal assistance services (PAS) enrollment.

All information is current as of September 2026. Specific portal interfaces and document requirements may be updated by TMHP — verify current requirements at tmhp.com before submitting your application.

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What TMHP Is and Why Enrollment Is Required

TMHP — Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership — is the fiscal agent for the Texas Medicaid program, contracted by HHSC to administer provider enrollment, claims processing, and payment for Medicaid-covered services in Texas.

As a home care agency that wants to serve STAR+PLUS members (adults with disabilities and seniors enrolled in Medicaid managed long-term services and supports), you must be enrolled with TMHP before anything else:

• Before submitting EVV data — HHAeXchange, the required Texas EVV aggregator, requires a valid Texas Medicaid provider identifier to configure your agency's account
• Before MCO credentialing — every STAR+PLUS managed care organization (Molina, Superior HealthPlan, UnitedHealthcare, Wellpoint, Community First, El Paso Health, Community Health Choice) requires your TMHP provider ID in your credentialing application
• Before submitting any STAR+PLUS claim — claims submitted without a TMHP-enrolled provider ID are denied

TMHP enrollment does not by itself let you bill STAR+PLUS — that requires MCO credentialing, which comes after. But enrollment is the gate that unlocks the next three steps.

Important: TMHP vs. MCO billing. Because STAR+PLUS is a managed care program, your actual claims go directly to the member's MCO — not to TMHP. TMHP enrollment is a prerequisite and a system registration, not the billing relationship. The MCO is the payer.

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Prerequisites: What Must Be in Place Before You Apply

1. Current HCSSA License

TMHP will not process a provider enrollment application without a currently active HCSSA license issued by HHSC. Your license number is a required field in the application, and TMHP verifies active license status against the HHSC provider registry during review.

If your HCSSA license application is still pending, do not submit your TMHP enrollment application yet. Use the HCSSA processing window (typically 60 to 90 days for a PAS license) to complete every other prerequisite below so you are ready to submit to TMHP on the day your license is issued.

For a full walkthrough of the HCSSA licensing process, including administrator training requirements and the pre-survey CBT, see our Texas HCSSA License Requirements 2026 guide.

2. Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Your agency must be operating as a legal business entity with an EIN issued by the IRS before applying for TMHP enrollment. A sole proprietor using a Social Security Number instead of an EIN is generally not the appropriate structure for a Medicaid-enrolled home care agency in Texas.

If your entity is newly formed, apply for an EIN at irs.gov before starting the TMHP process. EIN approval from the IRS is typically immediate when applied online.

3. Type 2 NPI (National Provider Identifier)

An NPI is the federal identifier issued by CMS that identifies your agency to payers. For a business entity (as opposed to an individual clinician), the correct NPI type is a Type 2 NPI (Organizational).

If you do not have an NPI:

1. Go to nppes.cms.hhs.gov (NPI/NPPES Registry)
2. Apply for a Type 2 (Organization) NPI
3. Enter your agency's legal name, address, EIN, and the relevant provider taxonomy code(s) for personal care services

Taxonomy codes for Texas PAS home care agencies: The most commonly used taxonomy code for an HCSSA providing personal assistance services is 251G00000X (Home Health). Some agencies also add 363LA2100X (Attendant Care Provider) depending on their HCSSA license type and the specific services they offer. Verify the correct taxonomy code(s) for your license category with TMHP's provider enrollment team before submitting — applying an incorrect taxonomy code creates enrollment category mismatches that require correction.

NPI applications are typically approved within 5 to 10 business days. Your NPI is permanent and does not need to be renewed.

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The TMHP Provider Enrollment Application

TMHP processes provider enrollment through TexMedConnect, its secure web portal at tmhp.com. All new enrollments are submitted online.

Step 1: Create Your TexMedConnect Account

If your agency does not have a TexMedConnect account:

1. Go to tmhp.com and click TexMedConnect
2. Select New User registration
3. Create an account for the person who will manage the enrollment (typically the agency owner or administrator)
4. Complete identity verification as prompted

Once your account is active, you have access to the Provider Enrollment section where you can initiate a new enrollment application.

Step 2: Select Your Provider Type

Within the Provider Enrollment section, you will select your provider type. For an HCSSA providing personal assistance services, the relevant category is Home and Community Support Services Agency (HCSSA). Selecting the correct provider type is critical — it determines which service codes you can bill, which authorization types apply to your claims, and what revalidation schedule TMHP will use for your enrollment.

If you hold a PAS-only HCSSA license (the most common for new agencies), select PAS as your service type. If your agency holds a Licensed Home Health (LHH) or Licensed and Certified Home Health (L&CHH) license, you may also select those service lines within your enrollment application.

Step 3: Complete the Enrollment Application

The TMHP enrollment application collects the following:

Agency identification:

• Legal business name and doing-business-as (DBA) name, if different
• Federal Tax ID (EIN)
• Type 2 NPI with taxonomy code(s)
• HCSSA license number (must be active and current at time of submission)
• Agency physical address and mailing address
• Primary contact phone and email

Service area information:

• Counties where your agency will provide services
• Service types being enrolled (PAS, companion, homemaker, respite — as authorized by your HCSSA license)

How to select your service area counties: Texas STAR+PLUS is administered through 11 regional Service Delivery Areas (SDAs). Each SDA contains a specific set of counties and has a designated set of managed care organizations operating within it. When completing your TMHP enrollment application, you are selecting counties — not SDAs directly — but the counties you list determine which SDAs and MCOs you can credential with after enrollment.

Practical guidance:

• List all counties you plan to serve, not just your current market. Adding counties after enrollment requires a modification request (2 to 4 additional weeks). If there is any chance you will serve a county in a neighboring SDA, include it now.
• Don't confuse your HCSSA physical location with your service area. Your HCSSA license authorizes you to operate; your TMHP service area selection determines which Medicaid members you can serve. A Dallas-based agency can be enrolled to serve counties in the Houston SDA as long as the HCSSA license covers that territory.
• Consult the TMHP Provider Manual (available at tmhp.com) for the current SDA-to-county mapping. HHSC periodically adjusts SDA boundaries and MCO contract assignments.

For a full breakdown of which MCOs operate in each Texas SDA and how to prioritize your credentialing sequence, see the Texas STAR+PLUS MCO Guide 2026.

Principal and owner information:

• Name, SSN, and date of birth for each agency owner or principal with 5% or greater ownership stake
• This information is used for background screening as part of enrollment review
• Each listed individual is subject to the OIG exclusion list check and Texas HHSC exclusion database check

Banking information for EFT:

• Routing and account number for the bank account that will receive Medicaid payments
• Account type (checking recommended)
• EFT authorization form (submitted as part of or immediately after enrollment)

Step 4: Upload Required Supporting Documents

Along with the online application, TMHP requires the following documents uploaded in the portal:

Document	Notes
Current HCSSA license	Must be active; TMHP verifies the license number against the HHSC registry
NPI confirmation letter or NPPES registry printout	Shows Type 2 NPI, taxonomy code(s), and agency name exactly as enrolled
IRS EIN confirmation (CP-575 or 147C letter)	Confirms the EIN belongs to the agency legal entity
Proof of general liability insurance	Certificate of Insurance with current effective dates; some provider types require minimum coverage amounts — verify current TMHP requirements
Professional liability (errors & omissions) insurance	Same format; review TMHP requirements for HCSSA providers
W-9	Signed within the current tax year
Government-issued ID for each listed principal	Driver's license or state-issued ID
Articles of incorporation or business formation documents	For corporations, LLCs, and partnerships

Document quality matters. TMHP reviewers flag applications when documents are blurry, expired, or do not match the name on the application. Use PDF scans, confirm all certificates show current dates, and confirm all names match your legal entity name exactly before uploading.

Step 5: Submit and Receive Your Application Reference Number

After completing the online application and uploading all supporting documents, submit the application. TMHP will generate a reference number — record this immediately and keep it. It is the only way to track your application status without contacting TMHP.

TMHP does not send an automatic confirmation email when an application is submitted. Log back into TexMedConnect 24 to 48 hours after submission to confirm the application shows as Received in the system.

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What Happens During TMHP's Review

TMHP's review process for a new HCSSA enrollment involves:

1. Completeness check — confirming all required fields are filled and documents are present
2. License verification — confirming active HCSSA licensure against the HHSC provider registry
3. NPI verification — confirming your NPI exists, is active, and is registered to your agency entity
4. Background screening — OIG exclusion list, Texas HHSC exclusion database, and principal-level checks
5. Documentation review — confirming insurance certificates, ownership documents, and EIN letter match the application data

During review, a TMHP enrollment specialist may contact you by phone or email to request additional documentation or clarification. Respond within 48 to 72 hours. Applications where the agency does not respond to information requests within the allowed window are typically closed, and you must reapply from the beginning.

Tracking your application: In TexMedConnect, your application status will move through stages: Received → In Review → Additional Information Requested (if applicable) → Approved or Denied. Log in weekly to check status.

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Timeline: What to Expect

Stage	Typical Duration
NPI application (if not yet obtained)	5–10 business days
TMHP enrollment review (complete application)	30–45 calendar days
TMHP enrollment review (incomplete — information request)	Add 15–30 days per request
HHAeXchange EVV setup (after TMHP approval)	7–14 days
MCO credentialing, per MCO (after TMHP approval)	30–90 days per MCO

Total: approximately 90 to 120 days from HCSSA license issuance to first billable STAR+PLUS client, assuming no delays and simultaneous MCO applications.

The agencies that reach their first STAR+PLUS billing date fastest are the ones that:

• Have their NPI application submitted before the HCSSA license is issued
• Have their W-9, insurance certificates, and formation documents ready on the day the license arrives
• Submit a complete TMHP application within 24 hours of receiving the HCSSA license
• Submit MCO credentialing applications to all SDAs simultaneously, immediately after TMHP approval

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After Approval: Your Texas Medicaid Provider ID

When TMHP approves your enrollment, you receive a Texas Medicaid provider identifier — a unique number that identifies your agency in the Texas Medicaid system. This identifier is sometimes called a TMPI, a TMHP provider number, or simply a provider ID.

Save this number securely. You will use it in:

• Every MCO credentialing application
• HHAeXchange EVV setup for your agency account
• All claim submissions (usually via the MCO's billing portal or an EDI clearinghouse)
• Annual revalidation communication

Setting Up ERA and EFT

Along with your provider ID, configure your Electronic Remittance Advice (ERA) and Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) settings in TexMedConnect before you submit your first claim:

• ERA — Electronic Remittance Advice sends your payment explanation data electronically to your billing software or clearinghouse, replacing paper EOBs
• EFT — Electronic Funds Transfer deposits Medicaid payments directly to your designated bank account; paper checks are slower and some MCOs no longer issue them by default

Both ERA and EFT are configured in TexMedConnect under the Provider Information section. Most home care billing software can receive ERA feeds directly, which simplifies payment reconciliation.

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What Your TMHP Provider ID Does NOT Allow (Yet)

Receiving your TMHP provider ID is an important milestone — but it does not mean you can begin accepting STAR+PLUS clients or submitting claims. What your provider ID allows:

Unlocks:

• MCO credentialing applications (you can now apply to Molina, Superior, UHC, and others in your SDA)
• HHAeXchange EVV agency account configuration
• Access to TMHP provider portals for claims and remittances

Still required before first billable visit:

• Active credentialing status with the member's specific MCO
• Completed HHAeXchange EVV setup and test submission
• Valid Individual Service Plan (ISP) authorization from the MCO for the specific member

Do not schedule your first STAR+PLUS visit until you have active, approved MCO credentialing status and a valid ISP in hand. Visits rendered before credentialing is active or outside an ISP authorization period are not recoverable through billing.

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Revalidation: Keeping Your Enrollment Current

Under CMS rules, all Medicaid providers must revalidate their enrollment every five years. TMHP manages the revalidation schedule and will send notice to the email on file approximately 180 days before your revalidation deadline.

Revalidation involves:

• Confirming or updating your agency information in TexMedConnect
• Uploading current insurance certificates, current HCSSA license, and updated ownership documentation
• Passing another background screening for listed principals
• Resubmitting EFT/ERA banking information if it has changed

Important: TMHP will disenroll providers that do not complete revalidation before the deadline. A lapsed enrollment cannot submit claims and must be reinstated — a process that can take 30 to 60 additional days. Set a calendar reminder at 180 days, 90 days, and 30 days before your revalidation deadline.

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Common Mistakes That Delay Enrollment

These are the most frequent causes of application delays or denials:

Name mismatches. The legal entity name on your TMHP application must match exactly what is on your HCSSA license, your NPI registration, your EIN letter, and your insurance certificates. A single discrepancy — abbreviated name, DBA used instead of legal name, middle name included in one place but not another — flags an information request.

Wrong NPI type. Some applicants mistakenly apply for a Type 1 (individual) NPI for their agency. An agency entity requires a Type 2 (organizational) NPI. TMHP will not accept a Type 1 NPI for an agency enrollment.

Expired insurance certificates. Insurance certificates uploaded during enrollment must have effective dates covering the period of application submission. A certificate that was valid six months ago may have expired. Pull fresh certificates from your insurance agent on the day you assemble your application.

Listing excluded principals. If any owner or principal with a 5% or greater ownership stake is listed on the OIG exclusion list or Texas HHSC exclusion database, TMHP will deny enrollment. Research each listed individual in the LEIE database before submitting.

Incomplete county service area selection. If you plan to serve clients in multiple counties, confirm that all intended counties are listed in your application. Adding counties after enrollment requires a change request — which takes additional processing time.

Submitting before the HCSSA license is issued. Applications submitted with a pending or recently applied-for license number fail the license verification step immediately.

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If TMHP Denies Your Application

A denial is not the end of the enrollment process — most denials are correctable. What you do after a denial depends on the reason code included in TMHP's written denial notice.

How TMHP Communicates a Denial

TMHP sends denial notifications to the email address registered on the TexMedConnect account. The notice includes a reason code and a brief description of why the application was denied. If you do not receive an email, log in to TexMedConnect and check your application status directly — denied applications show as Denied in the application record with the reason visible.

Do not wait to act. Some denial correction timelines and reconsideration windows are measured from the denial notice date.

Common Denial Reasons and How to Correct Them

License not active or not found. This is the most common denial for new HCSSA agencies. TMHP verifies license status at the moment of application review — if your HCSSA license has not yet been issued, has an administrative hold, or was entered with a typo, the system cannot verify it. Correction: confirm your license is active in the HHSC provider registry (hhs.texas.gov → HCSSA license search), then start a new application with the correct license number and an attached copy of the issued license document.

Name mismatch across documents. The legal entity name on your TMHP application differs from the name on your HCSSA license, NPI registration, EIN confirmation, or insurance certificate. Even minor differences — an ampersand vs. "and," abbreviated vs. spelled-out "LLC," or a hyphen in one place and not another — trigger a discrepancy flag. Correction: identify which documents do not match your legal entity name exactly, amend them if possible (insurance certificates can be reissued by your agent at no cost), and reapply with identical names across all fields.

OIG exclusion or HHSC exclusion match on a listed principal. If any owner or principal with 5% or greater ownership is on the OIG LEIE or the HHSC exclusion database, TMHP will deny the entire enrollment. This is a hard bar — TMHP cannot approve enrollment while an excluded individual remains a listed principal. Correction: if the exclusion is a confirmed match, the individual must either be removed from the ownership structure or the exclusion must be formally resolved through the originating agency (OIG or HHSC). The resolution process can take weeks to months. If you believe the match was a false positive, that is handled through the formal reconsideration process (see below).

Incomplete or missing documentation. A required document was absent, unreadable, or did not upload correctly. Correction: the denial notice typically names the document that was flagged. Gather a fresh copy, confirm it is current, and start a new application. Do not try to upload documents to the denied application — it must be restarted.

Duplicate enrollment or NPI conflict. The agency entity or NPI is already registered in TMHP's system under a prior or pending enrollment. Do not submit a second new application — doing so creates a conflict that TMHP must resolve manually. Contact TMHP directly (800-925-9126, provider enrollment line) to understand the existing record and whether a modification request or reactivation is the appropriate path.

Wrong provider type or taxonomy code. The application selected a provider type that does not match your HCSSA license category, or used an NPI taxonomy code that does not align with the enrolled provider type. Correction: confirm the correct taxonomy code for your license category with TMHP before reapplying (taxonomy code 251G00000X is the standard for HCSSA PAS providers in most cases, but verify).

Reapplication vs. Formal Reconsideration

Reapplication is the path for most correctable denials — name mismatches, missing documents, license not yet issued. You cannot edit a denied application in TexMedConnect. You must start a new application from the beginning with the corrected information. There is no additional waiting period between a denial and a reapplication.

Formal reconsideration is an administrative right for denials you believe TMHP issued in error — for example, if your license was active, your documents matched, and TMHP's reason code does not match the facts of your application. You have 30 days from the denial notice date to submit a written reconsideration request. The request must include:

• Your application reference number
• The specific denial reason being disputed
• Documentary evidence supporting your position (e.g., a printed HHSC registry page showing your license as active on the review date, or an NPI confirmation printout showing the name exactly as entered)

Reconsideration requests are submitted through TexMedConnect or by written correspondence to TMHP's provider enrollment department. TMHP reviews reconsideration requests and responds in writing — if the reconsideration is upheld, TMHP corrects the record; if denied again, your options shift to the standard administrative hearing process under HHSC rules.

Provider enrollment contact (TMHP): 800-925-9126 (provider helpline, option for provider enrollment) | tmhp.com/contact-us (enrollment-specific form with case tracking)

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After TMHP: The Next Steps in the STAR+PLUS Enrollment Sequence

TMHP enrollment is step two in a four-step process:

1. HCSSA license → issued by HHSC; required before TMHP enrollment
2. TMHP provider enrollment → required before EVV setup and MCO credentialing (this guide)
3. HHAeXchange EVV setup → required before any STAR+PLUS visit can be submitted compliantly; 7–14 days after TMHP approval
4. MCO credentialing → 30–90 days per MCO; can begin immediately after TMHP approval; submit to all MCOs in your SDA simultaneously

For detailed guidance on each of the steps that follow TMHP enrollment, see:

• Texas STAR+PLUS MCO Guide 2026 — which MCOs operate in your service delivery area and how to sequence credentialing
• How to Get Your First STAR+PLUS Client — the referral pipeline, service coordinator outreach, and what an ISP looks like
• STAR+PLUS Billing for Texas Home Care Agencies — the billing lifecycle after your first authorization
• Texas EVV Requirements 2026 — HHAeXchange EVV compliance for STAR+PLUS services

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Software Setup That Runs Parallel to TMHP Enrollment

TMHP enrollment takes 30 to 45 days. That is not dead time — it is the ideal window to complete your home care software setup, caregiver hiring, and pre-authorization paperwork.

By the time your TMHP provider ID arrives, an agency that used the enrollment window well will have:

• Active caregiver profiles in their scheduling software (including background checks and credential verification)
• EVV app installed on caregiver devices and tested with a private pay client
• Billing workflow mapped out (who enters authorizations, who submits claims, who reconciles remittances)
• Private pay clients generating revenue and building caregiver schedules

Atlas Care Software is built for exactly this sequence — Texas-native, designed for HCSSA PAS agencies, and set up in a single day. Caregivers log visits via GPS EVV, authorizations are tracked against visit counts automatically, and billing flows from verified visits without a separate step. You can start with private pay clients today and be ready for your first STAR+PLUS authorization the day your MCO credentialing clears.

See how Atlas handles STAR+PLUS EVV and scheduling →

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Additional Resources

• TMHP TexMedConnect portal: tmhp.com → TexMedConnect
• TMHP provider enrollment contact: tmhp.com/contact-us (use the Provider Enrollment helpline)
• NPI application (NPPES): nppes.cms.hhs.gov
• OIG exclusion check: exclusions.oig.hhs.gov
• HHSC LTCR provider exclusion list: hhs.texas.gov (search "excluded providers")
• Texas HCSSA license lookup: hhs.texas.gov (search "HCSSA license search")
• HHAeXchange Texas EVV onboarding: hhaexchange.com (Texas provider resources section)

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Related Guides

• Texas HCSSA License Requirements 2026 — the step before TMHP enrollment
• Texas STAR+PLUS MCO Guide 2026 — MCO credentialing: which MCOs, which order, what documents
• How to Get Your First STAR+PLUS Client — the referral pipeline after credentialing completes
• STAR+PLUS Billing for Texas Home Care Agencies — billing lifecycle from authorization to payment
• Texas EVV Requirements 2026 — HHAeXchange EVV compliance requirements for STAR+PLUS
• Texas Home Care Employer Compliance Guide 2026 — W-2 vs. 1099 caregiver classification, Texas workers' comp, TWC UI registration
• AtlasCare vs HHAeXchange — the difference between HHAeXchange as the required state EVV aggregator and as a commercial scheduling software
• AtlasCare vs Axxess — both Texas-founded; STAR+PLUS compliance, EVV, and pricing compared
• AtlasCare vs Alora — per-user + setup fees vs. Atlas flat $199/mo for small Texas private pay agencies
• AtlasCare vs AxisCare — quote-based pricing vs. published flat rate; scheduling and EVV for Texas agencies
• View all home care software comparisons →

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All TMHP enrollment information reflects publicly available TMHP, HHSC, and CMS sources as of September 2026. Provider enrollment processes, portal interfaces, and document requirements are updated by TMHP periodically. Verify current requirements at tmhp.com before submitting your application.