Medicaid (STAR) and CHIP Network Participation
If you are located in Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Travis, or Williamson counties, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) would like to extend the opportunity for participation as a provider in the BCBSTX Medicaid State of Texas Access Reform (STAR) and BCBSTX Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
STAR is the Medicaid Managed Care Program for Texas. BCBSTX has been selected to provide comprehensive managed care services to the STAR program for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) in the Travis Service Area. Counties in the service area include Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Travis, and Williamson.
CHIP is designed for families who earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid, yet cannot afford to buy private insurance for their children (up to age 19). BCBSTX has been selected to provide comprehensive managed care services to the CHIP program for the Texas HHSC in the Travis Service Area.
The HHSC has contracted with BCBSTX to provide comprehensive managed care services for the STAR and CHIP programs that will include, among other things, network development, provider contracting and education, and coordination with provider and treatment facilities. Your network participation will ensure the success of these two very important programs.
View BCBSTX Strategic Alliance with Wellpoint for Medicaid and CHIP Services
.
Medical/Surgical Physicians and Professional Providers
In order to participate in Medicaid (STAR) and CHIP, physicians and professional providers must have:
- Privileges at a STAR and CHIP participating hospital (unless inpatient admissions are uncommon or not required for the physician's and professional provider's specialty)
- A valid National Provider Identifier (NPI) number
- A valid Medicaid Texas Provider Identifier (TPI) number (applies to STAR only)
- Attestation (registration and reporting of NPI number) with the State of Texas
Additional credentialing will not be required for those providers already credentialed in the BlueChoice® or HMO Blue® Texas networks and whose recredentialing is current.
As a participating BCBSTX STAR and CHIP professional provider, you will be reimbursed 100% of the State of Texas Medicaid fee schedule, current for that date-of-service. Access State of Texas Medicaid Fee Schedule
If you have questions, please contact your local Network Management office in Austin at 512-349-4876 or 800-336-5696 (press 1, enter extension 44876).
If you are one of the following physicians or other professional providers interested in participating in the Medicaid STAR and CHIP program, please refer to the contact list below:
- Behavioral Health Professionals and Physicians – contact Magellan Health Services at 800-788-4005 or Magellan Health Services.
- Pharmacy Providers – contact Express Scripts
- Vision Providers – contact Davis Vision
To become a Medicaid (STAR) or CHIP provider you must attest (register and report) your NPI with Texas Medicaid and Healthcare Partnership (TMHP).
For more information, please visit TMHP Provider Enrollment.
Note: You cannot be reimbursed for Medicaid services without attesting with TMHP.
Participating physicians, professional providers, and facility providers are requested to submit claims electronically to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas within 95 days of the date of service, or by using the standard CMS-1500 or UB04 claim form.
Note: If submitting claims by paper, send claims to:
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
P.O. Box 684787
Austin, TX 78768
Services billed beyond 95 days from the date of service are not eligible for reimbursement.
Participating physicians, professional providers, and facility providers may not seek payment from the member for claims submitted after the 95 day filing deadline.
Children of Migrant Farm Workers ![]()
Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) ![]()
Freh v Suehs Consent Decree and Corrective Action Orders ![]()
How to Fill Out a Claim CMS 1500 Form ![]()
Interpreter Services Desk Top Reference ![]()
Medical Record and Facility Site Review ![]()
Medical Transportation Program Services ![]()
Member Complaints Appeals Fair Hearing ![]()
Quality Assurance (QA) & Performance Improvement (PI) Program ![]()
Referral Policy and Procedures ![]()
TX Health Steps Missed Appointments ![]()
View frequently asked questions regarding STAR and CHIP requirements for participation, credentialing, reimbursement, and where to find more information.
Please Join Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas for
Informative STAR and CHIP Training Webinars
BCBSTX is hosting Provider Training webinars. These webinars will give providers and their staff an orientation to BCBSTX STAR and CHIP programs and services.
Your Opinion Matters
Because your opinions matter to BCBSTX, you will be asked to share your comments about the webinars in a brief evaluation at the conclusion of the session. We also use this as confirmation of your attendance. View Evaluation ![]()
Materials
The PowerPoint presentation from your session will be available for you to download by clicking on the handouts icon in the top right corner of the webinar. We encourage you to save a copy to share with your team or for future reference.
View Presentations:
- Medicaid (STAR) and CHIP A Comprehensive Overview

- Medicaid (STAR) and CHIP Ancillary Provider Training

- Medicaid (STAR) and CHIP Claims Billing and Authorization Training

- Medicaid (STAR) and CHIP Facility Provider Orientation

- Medicaid (STAR) and CHIP FQHC/RHC Claims and Billing Training

- Medicaid (STAR) and CHIP Provider Orientation

| Medicaid (STAR) & CHIP Training Sessions | |
|---|---|
| Note: All webinars are scheduled from 12 Noon – 2 p.m., Central Time. | |
| Schedule for April 2012 | |
| Friday, April 27 Note 1 | |
| Schedule for May 2012 | |
| Wednesday, May 9 Note 2 | Wednesday, May 23 Note 3 |
| Schedule for June 2012 | |
| Wednesday, June 6 Note 4 | Wednesday, June 20 Note 3 |
| Schedule for July 2012 | |
| Tuesday, July 10 Note 3 | Wednesday, July 18 Note 5 |
| Wednesday, July 26 Note 6 | |
| Schedule for August 2012 | |
| Tuesday, August 7 Note 3 | Wednesday, August 23 Note 7 |
| Schedule for September 2012 | |
| Tuesday, September 11 Note 3 | Wednesday, September 19 Note 8 |
| Wednesday, September 27 Note 9 | |
| Schedule for October 2012 | |
| Wednesday, October 3 Note 4 | Thursday, October 25 Note 7 |
| Schedule for November 2012 | |
| Tuesday, November 6 Note 3 | Thursday, November 15 Note 2 |
| Note 1: | Ancillary Provider Training – Overview of billing and authorization requirements |
| Note 2: | Texas Health Steps – Provide clinical overview of the components of THSteps, information for the identification of children of Migrant Farm workers |
| Note 3: | Provider Orientation - Comprehensive Overview |
| Note 4: | Medical Management Webinar – Provide an overview of the authorization guidelines, any updates, and an overview of the authorizations/referrals process |
| Note 5: | Provider Network and Credentialing – Provide an overview of the Credentialing process and Network requirements |
| Note 6: | Provider Cultural and Linguistic Toolkit – Provide training on UniCare’s Cultural toolkit used to heighten awareness of cultural sensitivity, and to provide information to access interpreter services |
| Note 7: | OB/GYN Provider Training – Provide information regarding newborn notification report, Pregnancy Notification report, and to describe the process to report high risk pregnancies to case management |
| Note 8: | Medicaid Bulletin Updates – Provide updates outlined in the Medicaid Bulletin issued by HHSC/TMHP |
| Note 9: | Claims & Billing Webinar – Discuss unique Claims & Billing requirements. Also, briefly discuss prior authorization process. |
Instructions
View Instructions for Provider Training Webinars ![]()
Questions
Please call your local Network Management office in Austin at 512-349-4876 or 800-336-5696 (press 1, enter extension 44876).
