Revision 26-2; Effective Sept. 1, 2026

Grantees must determine and document PHC eligibility before rendering services. Grantees must have a policy that outlines the procedures to determine program eligibility and the staff member(s) responsible for eligibility screening.

To assess eligibility for PHC, grantees must use the most recent version of Form 3029, Application for Program Benefits, or an HHSC-approved eligibility screening form substitute, such as in-house form, electronic form or phone interview that contains the required information for determining eligibility.

Alternate Eligibility Screening Tool

An Alternate Eligibility Screening Tool (AEST), created by the grantee may be used in place of Form 3029 with prior written approval by the PHC program. 

To apply for approval, grantees must send a request to the PHC program mailbox with AEST Request in the subject line.

The HHSC PHC program contact will send grantees an AEST Request Form to complete. Grantees must complete the form and return it to the program mailbox with the proposed AEST.

The AEST must contain all required elements of Form 3029

HHSC must review and approve before use. Grantees must use Form 3029 until they have received written approval of the proposed AEST from HHSC. The grantee must maintain and retain proof of approval and must make the approval available during Quality Assurance visits.

Once a grantee receives approval for the use of the AEST, the following requirements apply:

• Grantees must request approval from the PHC program for any revisions to their eligibility screening tool and include a copy of the revised tool.
• The AEST is only approved for use during the current grant term. If a grantee is awarded funding under a subsequent grant, the grantee must resubmit the AEST for review and written approval, even if no changes have been made to the tool since the last written approval.
• Any changes made to Form 3029 that are considered requirements for eligibility by HHSC must be incorporated into the grantee-developed AEST. Grantees must submit their AEST with the incorporated changes within 60 calendar days after notification of a change to Form 3029 for rereview and approval.

The PHC program reserves the right to request edits or withdraw its approval of the use of an alternate eligibility tool. The PHC program will notify the grantee of the decision in writing and include the date the AEST must be discontinued.

Revision 26-2; Effective Sept. 1, 2026

For a person to receive PHC services, three criteria must be met:

• gross family income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
• Texas resident
• not eligible for other programs or benefits providing the same services

Grantees must require residency verification, but such verification should not jeopardize delivery of services. Grantees must require income verification for countable income, except in cases when submitting the income verification jeopardizes the client's right to confidentiality or imposes a barrier to receive services. In these special cases, the grantee must waive the requirement for income verification. Note the reasons for waiving verification of income in the client’s record.

Eligibility determinations for PHC can be made by conducting interviews over the phone or in person for new applicants and to re-certify current clients. Phone interviews for eligibility determinations must comply with all eligibility guidelines outlined in program policy.

If a client is unable to sign the Acknowledgment section of Form 3029, Application for Program Benefits, the eligibility staff may read the statements to the applicant over the phone and document that the applicant affirms the statements. The documentation must include the date and time of the applicant's affirmation and the eligibility staff person’s signature. The client must sign the document at the time of their next visit to the clinic.

Revision 26-2; Effective Sept. 1, 2026

Potential Eligibility and Referral to Other Programs

The PHC program is the payer of last resort. Grantees must screen applicants for Medicaid, CHIP, Medicaid for Pregnant Women, CHIP Perinatal and any other applicable benefit programs. Applicants must apply for any programs for which they appear eligible. Grantees must document screening for other programs on Form 3029, Application for Program Benefits. Applicants who do not fully comply with applying for other benefit programs are not eligible for PHC. PHC will not reimburse services provided to these applicants.

If a client appears eligible and applies for any of these other benefit programs, they must be granted Presumptive Eligibility for PHC while awaiting benefit determination. The client is responsible for submitting proof of application or a denial letter before the presumptive eligibility period ends. If a client does not seem eligible for any other program, document this on the application.

All Medicaid, CHIP, Medicaid for Pregnant Women, CHIP Perinatal or other benefit program applications must be submitted promptly following PHC eligibility assessment. If a client was denied Medicaid or CHIP services, the denial letter must be included with their application. Grantees may use the HHSC Your Texas Benefits website to help screen for client eligibility. Call 2-1-1 for more information about HHSC benefits.

Applicants generally are not eligible for the PHC program if they are enrolled in another third-party payer program, such as:

• private health insurance
• Medicaid or Medicare
• TRICARE
• Workers’ Compensation
• Veterans Affairs Benefits
• other federal, state, or local public health care coverage that provides the same services

Information for Former Military Service Members

Applicants who served in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves or National Guard may be eligible for more benefits and services and must be referred to the Texas Veterans Portal for more information. Former female military service members must also be referred to the Texas Veterans Commission’s Women Veterans Program.

Household

A household consists of a person living alone or a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, including common-law marriage or adoption who live together and are legally responsible for the support of the other person.

Legal responsibility for support exists between:

• people who are legally married, including common-law marriage;
• a legal parent and a minor child, including unborn children; or
• a managing conservator and a minor child. A managing conservator is a person designated by a court to have daily legal responsibility for a child.

All children younger than 18 years must be counted as part of the household, including a pregnant client’s unborn children. Once a child turns 18, they must complete their own program application, listing themselves as the applicant and including any income they earn.

Documentation of Family Composition

If family relationships are unclear, request one of the following items:

• birth certificate
• baptismal certificate
• school records
• other documents or proof of familial relationship determined valid by the grantee to establish the dependency of the family member with the client or head of household

Family members who receive other health care benefits must be included in the household. The grantee has discretion to document any special circumstances in the calculation of family composition.

Documentation of Residency

To be eligible for PHC services, a person must:

• be physically present within the state of Texas;
• have the intent to remain within the state, whether permanently or for an indefinite period; and
• not claim residency in any other state or country.

If a person is younger than 18 years old, their parent or guardian must also be a resident of Texas and meet the criteria above.

There is no requirement about the length of time a person must live in Texas to establish residency for the purposes of PHC eligibility.

Document proof of residency provided by the client on Form 3029, Application for Program Benefits. For documentation of residency, one of the following items may be provided:

• valid Texas driver license
• current voter registration
• rent or utility receipts for one month before the month of application
• motor vehicle registration
• school records
• medical cards or other similar benefit cards
• property tax receipt
• mail addressed to the applicant, their spouse or children if they live together
• other documents considered valid by the grantee

If none of the listed items are available, residency may be verified through one of the following:

• observance of personal effects and living arrangement
• statements from landlords, neighbors or other reliable sources

If an applicant’s residency is unclear or questionable, explain and document concerns if necessary. If a family is otherwise eligible, but residency is in question, the household is entitled to services until residency information is verified.

Applicants do not lose their residency status because of temporary absences from the state. For example, a seasonal worker who travels during certain times, but maintains a home in Texas and returns to that home after temporary absences is considered a Texas resident.

Documentation of Income

All income received must be included. If an unmarried applicant lives with a partner, count the partner’s income only if the applicant and partner have mutual children together, including unborn children. Income is calculated before taxes – gross household income. Income is reviewed and determined either countable or exempt based on the source of the income, as defined in Appendix I, Definition of Income. Grantees must have a written PHC income verification policy.

Documentation of income for PHC services must be provided to complete Form 3029. Declarations of unknown income will not be accepted as documentation.

Provide the following documentation:

• at least two pay periods that accurately represent their gross earnings dated within 60 days before the application processing date; or
• one month’s pay only if paid the same gross amount monthly, unless special circumstances are noted on the application.

The pay periods must accurately reflect the applicant’s usual and customary earnings. Proof may include:

• copy(ies) of the most recent paycheck(s) stub or monthly earning statement(s)
• employer’s written verification of gross monthly income
• optional forms, Form 3049 and Form 3051
• award letters
• domestic relation printouts of child support payments received
• statement of support
• unemployment benefits statement or letter from the Texas Workforce Commission
• court orders or public decrees to verify support payments
• notes for cash contributions
• other documents or proof of income determined valid by the grantee

Grantees must require income verification for countable income. In cases when submitting the income verification jeopardizes the client's safety or confidentiality, or imposes a barrier to receipt of services, the grantee must waive this requirement and document the reason.

Optional Forms

The following forms are optional. They may be used to help complete the income and employment verification process:

• Form 3049, Employment Verification
• Form 3051, Statement of Self-Employment Income

Monthly Income Conversions

If income payments are received in lump sums or at longer intervals than monthly, such as seasonal employment, the income is prorated over the time the income is expected to cover. Income received weekly, every two weeks or twice a month must be converted as:

• weekly income is multiplied by 4.33
• income received every two weeks is multiplied by 2.17
• income received twice monthly is multiplied by 2

Allowable Income Deductions

Dependent care expenses may be deducted from total income. This expense must be both necessary for employment and incurred by an employed person. Documentation must be provided. Allowable deductions are actual expenses up to:

• $200 per child per month for children under two
• $175 per child per month for each dependent two or older
• $175 per adult with disabilities per month

Legally required child support payments made by a member of the household must be deducted from gross household income. Documentation of payments must be provided. Convert payments made weekly, every two weeks or twice a month by using one of the conversion factors listed above.

Gross household income less any allowable deductions is the Adjusted Gross Household Income.

Calculation of Applicant's Federal Poverty Level Percentage

The grantee must determine the household Federal Poverty Level (FPL) percentage using current U.S. Department of Health and Human Services federal poverty guidelines. The guidelines are subject to change near the start of each calendar year.

To calculate the household FPL percentage:

• determine the monthly adjusted gross household income
• determine the household size
• determine the current federal poverty level amount based on the household size
• divide the household’s total monthly adjusted gross income by the corresponding poverty limit amount
• multiply by 100

Documenting Special Circumstances

Special circumstances may prevent an applicant from providing the required documentation for verification purposes. Document these types of circumstances appropriately on Form 3029.

Client Fees and Co-pays

Grantees may assess a co-pay for services from PHC clients. Grantees who choose to collect co-pays must comply with the following guidelines:

• No PHC client will be denied services based on an inability to pay.
• Clients with a household FPL at or below 100% will not be charged a co-pay.
• Clients with a household FPL above 100% may be charged a co-pay of no more than $30 per visit.
• Grantees must have a written co-pay policy which clearly defines how co-pay amounts are determined.
• Clients with an assessed co-pay must be given a billing statement at the time of service. A copy must be kept in the client’s record.
• Any outstanding balance may not be turned over to a collection agency or reported delinquent to a credit reporting agency.
• Any outstanding balance must not prohibit a client from receiving services.
• All policies and procedures about co-pay collection must be approved by the grantee’s board of directors.
• Co-pays must be reported as program income in the Monthly Reimbursement Packet (MRP). The grantee must complete B25 and E25.

Grantees may choose to use the optional co-pay table in the Appendix II, Optional Co-Pay Table Based on Monthly Federal Poverty Level. This table is updated each calendar year after the new federal poverty guidelines are published.

Other Fees

Grantees must not charge clients administrative fees for items such as processing or transfer of medical records and copies of immunization records.

Grantees may bill clients for services outside the scope of PHC allowable services if the service is provided at the client’s request and the client is made aware of their financial responsibility for the charges before services are provided.

Client Responsibility for Reporting Changes

A client must report changes to the following no later than 30 calendar days after the client is made aware of any changes:

• income
• family composition
• residence
• current address
• employment
• medical insurance coverage
• receipt of Medicaid, CHIP, CHIP Perinatal or other third-party coverage benefits

The client may report changes in person or by mail, email, phone or through someone acting on the client’s behalf. If changes result in the client no longer meeting eligibility criteria, the client’s eligibility will be terminated. The grantee must issue Form 3047, Notice of Ineligibility, to the client upon termination and include the date of termination.

Continuation of Services

Once awarded grant funds are spent, grantees must continue serving their existing PHC clients through the end of their clients’ determined eligibility periods.

Any funding sources other than PHC awarded program funds used to provide PHC services must be reported as non-HHSC funds on the Monthly Report Form and the quarterly Financial Status Report (FSR), also known as Form 269A.

Grantees do not have to screen potential new clients for program eligibility once awarded grant funds are exhausted. However, if screenings are completed and potential clients are determined eligible before funds are expended, the grantee must provide services to those clients.

Eligibility

Full program eligibility begins on the date the grantee determines a client is eligible for the program and all the following requirements are met:

• all program eligibility requirements are met
• program application is completed and signed
• all verification documents are submitted

To notify an applicant of eligibility, the grantee must issue Form 3012, Verification of Eligibility, to the applicant.

Presumptive Eligibility

PHC emphasizes the importance of prevention and early intervention. The goal of PHC is for clients to be part of the health care system and not rely on episodic acute care. An applicant’s medical needs must be met quickly and appropriately, using available resources in the community.

Presumptive eligibility provides short-term access to health care services when an applicant:

• screens as potentially eligible for services
• has an emergent medical need
• lacks the documentation required to achieve full eligibility

Grantees are only required to treat emergent medical needs during the presumptive eligibility period.

Grantees must establish a presumptive eligibility period of a minimum of 30 days and up to a maximum of 90 days in their eligibility policy. During this presumptive eligibility period, clients are expected to produce the necessary verification documents.

For clients who submit all required verification documents and are determined to be fully eligible during or at the end of their presumptive eligibility period, full eligibility will be granted. The eligibility expiration date will be calculated 12 months from the day presumptive eligibility began.

To notify an applicant of Presumptive Eligibility, the grantee must issue Form 3045, Presumptive Eligibility Notice to the client.

If no other documentation is available, the grantee may:

• waive the requirement to submit the eligibility documentation; or
• approve full eligibility on a case-by-case basis if the grantee determines submitting the documentation creates a barrier to care.

These circumstances must be documented in the client’s record.

Clients are limited to one presumptive eligibility period per two calendar years.

Ineligibility

If an applicant is determined to be ineligible for program services after the screening process is complete, the applicant must be given Form 3047, Notice of Ineligibility. The applicant must also be informed of their right to appeal the eligibility decision, using the process described on the Notice of Ineligibility.

Supplemental Benefits

Applicants receiving benefits from other sources, such as Children’s Medicaid or Medicaid for Pregnant Women, may also be eligible for partial PHC coverage. This supplemental or wraparound coverage is limited to services provided by PHC but not covered by other sources. Whenever federal, state, private or other benefits are available for payment of clients receiving PHC covered services, do not use any PHC funds for such care. An example of supplemental benefits is providing health education services to Medicaid-eligible clients since Medicaid does not provide health education services. The grantee must inform the client that supplemental services are of limited scope.

Adjunctive Eligibility

An applicant is considered adjunctively – automatically – eligible for PHC program services at an initial or renewal eligibility screening if the applicant is currently enrolled in one or more of the following programs:

• Children’s Medicaid
• Medicaid for Pregnant Women
• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

The applicant must be able to provide proof of active enrollment in the adjunctively eligible program. Acceptable eligibility verification documentation may include:

*Note: Presentation of the Your Texas Benefits card does not completely verify current enrollment in the Children’s Medicaid or Medicaid for Pregnant Women program. To verify enrollment, grantees must call Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership (TMHP) at 800-925-9126 or access TexMedConnect. For a client's current enrollment status, grantees must enter two of the following four data elements:

• patient control number
• date of birth
• Social Security number
• last name

If the applicant’s current enrollment status cannot be verified during the eligibility screening process, adjunctive eligibility must not be granted. The grantee then determines eligibility per usual protocols.

Annual Eligibility Determination

Annual eligibility determination is required for all PHC clients. Client eligibility must be redetermined every 12 months, using the most recent version of Form 3029, Application for Program Benefits.

Grantees must have a system in place to track client eligibility expiration dates to determine when a new application is needed.