STAR Medicaid
Community First Health Plans’ STAR (State of Texas Access Reform) is a managed care option of the STAR Program for Medicaid clients.
The objectives of the STAR Program are to improve the access to care for Members to increase the quality and continuity of care for Members, to decrease the inappropriate usage of the health care delivery system such as Emergency room visits for non-emergencies, to achieve cost-effectiveness and efficiency for the State and to promote provider and member satisfaction.
Community First Health Plans is able to ensure these objectives are accomplished because of its diverse, fully credentialed network of physicians, allied health care providers, ancillary providers and hospitals.
Community First Health Plans’ network is comprised of physicians (primary care physicians and specialists), allied and ancillary health care providers, hospitals and other facilities selected to provide quality health care to our STAR Members.
The Primary Care Physician (PCP) is responsible for managing the overall medical care of patients, and for coordinating referrals to specialists and inpatient/outpatient facilities.
A PCP is a Community First Health Plans STAR network provider with one of the following specialties: General Practice, Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology (pregnant women only), Pediatrics, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) or Rural Health Clinics (RHCs).
In addition, Community First Health Plans STAR members can access contracted Advance Practice Nurses, Physician Assistants, and Certified Nurse Midwives practicing under the supervision of a physician for appropriate covered services.
Texas Health Steps Program
Through outreach,Texas Health Steps staff, or contractors encourage STAR Members to use Texas Health Steps preventive medical checkup services when they first become eligible for Medicaid/Texas Health Steps and when they are periodically due for their yearly medical checkup in their birthday month.
On request by the client, the Medical Transportation Program (MTP) assists the client with scheduling transportation. Refer to the MTP section on page 23 of this Provider Manual for more detailed information.
Texas Health Steps medical providers must perform medical checkups on any client who is currently enrolled in Medicaid and who are ages of birth through 20 years of age. Providers also are encouraged to notify the client when he or she is due for the next medical checkup according to the Texas Health Steps Periodicity Schedule.
Note: Newly enrolled STAR Members must receive a Texas Health Steps medical checkup within 60 days from enrollment.
Provider Training Schedule
To register for training sessions, please call (210) 358-6294 or email ProviderRelations@cfhp.com.
Free online provider education is available, and many include Continuing Education credits. Check out the online options offered by Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).
For additional information visit Health & Human Services.
provider education Webinars
Access our library of benefits and resources available to our members from our Resources.
The information in the Community First Health Plans manual is an overview that supplements the approved HHSC’s version of the 2016 Texas Medicaid Provider Procedures Manual, and specifically the Texas Health Steps section Volume 2 Children’s Services Handbook, Section 5 and Appendix D-F, and Texas Medicaid bi-monthly Bulletins. Providers are to refer to these documents for detailed information about the program.
Handbooks, manuals, and Community First newsletters are available in print, free of charge, and mailed within 5 days, by calling 1-800-434-2347 or by making a request through your secure Provider Login.
Nurse Advise Hotline
Nurse Advice Line (210) 227-2347 or toll free at 1-800-434-2347
Community First Health Plans does not require a referral for a Member to see a specialist. Some specialist’s offices may require or prefer to have a “Referral.” Members should ask their PCP to confirm with the specialist if a referral is needed from the PCP for you to be seen.
If the specialist is not-network, Community First will work to complete a Letter of Agreement (LOA)/ Single Case Agreement with the non-network specialist. These LOA/Single Case Agreements can be for one or several visits and lengths of time depending on the medical necessity as determined by Community First.
Any downtime for routine scheduled maintenance for Provider-facing systems are posted to Community First’s website and shared with Community First staff. Id a toll-free number is provided that is also shared.
For outages and/or unplanned downtime, information will be posted to Community First’s website and appropriate toll-free numbers will be posted and shared with Community First staff.
If you are a provider and need to reach Community First after hours or on weekends, please call (210) 227-2347.