Body
Revision 25-3; Effective Nov. 14, 2025
Statute
The Primary Health Care Services Act, House Bill 1844, is the statutory authority for the Primary Health Care (PHC) program administered by HHSC. The Act defines the specific target population, eligibility, reporting, and coordination requirements for PHC.
Rules
The state rules for PHC services in Texas are in the Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Title 26, Part 1, Chapter 364, Subchapter A. PHC program rules require that, at a minimum, a grantee must provide the following six priority PHC services:
- diagnosis and treatment;
- emergency medical services;
- family planning services;
- preventive health services;
- health education; and
- laboratory, x-ray, nuclear medicine or other appropriate diagnostic services.
PHC provides services through contracted providers (grantees) for people who are at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and cannot access the same care through other funding sources or programs. Grantees must ensure that services provided to clients are accessible in terms of cost, scheduling and distance.
Funding Sources
PHC program services are funded by state general revenue. HHSC PHC funds are allocated through a competitive application process, and then selected applicants negotiate contracts with HHSC to provide services. Many types of organizations provide PHC program services, such as local health departments, medical schools, hospitals, private nonprofit agencies, community-based clinics, federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), and rural health clinics. Providers must enroll with the Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership (TMHP) to provide PHC program services. State and federal law prohibits the use of contracted funds awarded by HHSC to pay the direct or indirect costs of abortion procedures. This includes overhead, rent, phones and utilities.