In 2013, House Bill 15 was passed during the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of the bill was to develop initial rules for level of care designations for hospitals that provide maternal services. The hospital level of care designations for maternal care rules went into effect on March 1, 2018.

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

• Improve maternal patient care and outcomes, 
• Develop hospital requirements for facility designation, and
• Establish regional coordination of maternal care.

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Perinatal Designation Meetings   

Texas maternal and neonatal levels of care designation program staff are invited to attend our monthly meeting in collaboration with the department and peers throughout the state. Share ideas and best practices to improve patient outcomes for Texans.  

Overview

• Rule: Texas Administrative Code, Title 25, Chapter 133, Subchapter K 

Survey Organizations 

For the purposes of maternal levels of care designation, DSHS will accept survey results from these recognized organizations: 

• The Joint Commission (TJC): Specialty Care, Subspecialty Care, and Comprehensive Care  
• Texas Perinatal Services (TPS): Specialty Care, Subspecialty Care, and Comprehensive Care  

Advisory Council

• 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.

Resources

• Applications and Forms
• DSHS Designation Program: Facility Program Contact Update Form
  Use our online verification system to verify your current contact information (instructions).
• Designation Site Survey Guidelines
• Maternal Medical Record Face Sheet
• Texas DSHS Designation Survey Organization Application
• Perinatal Designation Application Submission Dates
• Preliminary Readings of Radiology Images
• Perinatal Bereavement Care Initiative (Everly’s Law) 

The following tools may be used to evaluate your facility's compliance according to the Maternal Level of Care you are seeking.

• Level I Maternal – Self-Assessment
• Level II Maternal – Self-Assessment
• Level III Maternal – Self-Assessment
• Level IV Maternal – Self-Assessment
• Obstetric Care Consensus

Fees

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

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

Map

• EMS/Trauma Systems Interactive Map

Facilities

• List of facilities by Designation Level