Neonatal Designation

In 2013, House Bill 15 was passed during the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of the bill was to create level of care designations for hospitals that provide neonatal and maternal services. During the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, House Bill 3433 amended Health and Safety Code, Chapter 241. The purpose of the bill was to develop initial rules for neonatal/maternal level of care designation. The hospital level of care designations for neonatal and maternal care rules went into effect on June 9, 2016.

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has the authority to designate facilities. The Office of EMS/Trauma Systems Section of DSHS works with hospitals, survey organizations, and the Perinatal Advisory Council (PAC) to:

• Develop facility designation protocols,
• Develop policies, and
• Designate facilities in the state.

Overview

• Rules: Texas Administrative Code, Title 25, Chapter 133, Subchapter J

Survey Organizations 

• American Academy of Pediatrics NICU Verification Program
• Texas Perinatal Services

Advisory Council and Subcommittee

• Perinatal Advisory Council (PAC)
  Created by House Bill 15 of the 83rd Texas Legislature (Regular Session), the PAC examines utilization trends in neonatal and maternal care and recommends ways to improve neonatal and maternal outcomes.
   
• The Centers of Excellence for Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy
  The Centers of Excellence for Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy subcommittee advises the PAC and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission in the development of rules to establish the criteria a health care entity or program in the state of Texas will have to meet to receive designation as a Center of Excellence for Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy 

Documents

• Applications and Forms
• DSHS Virtual Survey Guidelines
• Frequently Asked Questions from Neonatal (NICU) Designated Facilities
• DSHS Designation Program: Facility Update Form 
  Use our online verification system to verify your current contact information (instructions).

Fees

The non-refundable neonatal application fees for a three-year designation period are as follows:

• Level I neonatal facility application fees are as follows:
  • <=100 licensed beds fee is $250.00; or
  •  >100 licensed beds fee is $750.00.
• Level II neonatal facility application fee is $1,500.00.
• Level III neonatal facility application fee is $2,000.00.
• Level IV neonatal facility application fee is $2,500.00.

Map

• EMS/Trauma Systems Interactive Map

Facilities

• List of facilities by Designation Level

Resource Documents

These tools may be used to evaluate your facility's compliance with the Neonatal Level of Care that you will be applying for. 

• Level II Neonatal – Self-Assessment
• Level III Neonatal – Self-Assessment
• Level IV Neonatal – Self-Assessment

Provider training webinars: Recordings of the training are listed below. Each link will take you to a page where you must enter your name and email address to access the video. 

Webinar recordings:

• Level I Designation – June 13, 2016
• Level II Designation – June 14, 2016
• Level III and IV Designation – June 16, 2016
• Level III and IV Designation – June 20, 2016
• Level I Designation – June 21, 2016
• Level II Designation – June 24, 2016

Neonatal Application Packet Submission and Completion of the Self-Audit Tool- September 14, 2016
View System Requirements

PowerPoint presentations from webinars:

• Level I PowerPoint presentation
• Level II PowerPoint presentation 
• Level III and IV PowerPoint presentation