TB News and Announcements
TB Standing Delegation Orders and Standing Medical Orders
Standing Delegation Orders and Standing Medical Orders for Tuberculosis Prevention and Care for FY 2024 are now available.
The Standing Delegation Orders (SDOs) and Standing Medical Orders (SMOs) are written instructions, orders, and procedures prepared by the Department of State Health Services Tuberculosis and Hansen’s Disease Unit to promote consistent evaluation and treatment practices for persons with suspected or confirmed TB disease and latent TB infection.
The purpose of this document is to provide authority for specific acts of tuberculosis (TB) clinical services under the authority of Rule Title 22, Texas Administrative Code §193.2, Standing Delegation Orders.
The intended audience for the SDOs and SMOs includes physicians, registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, and non-licensed staff working in local health departments with TB programs and DSHS Public Health Regions.
The revised Standing Delegation Orders and Standing Medical Orders for Tuberculosis Prevention and Care are effective September 1, 2023.
DSHS TB Medication Availability Notification: May 30, 2023
The availability of first-line tuberculosis (TB) medications is in fluctuation leading to drug shortages. Please adhere to the criteria outlined in the below documents until otherwise instructed by the DSHS Tuberculosis and Hansen’s Disease Unit.
- Notification of Tuberculosis Medication Availability
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Drug Shortages
Tuberculosis and Hansen's Disease Calendar of Events 2023
The Tuberculosis and Hansen's Disease Calendar of Events lists 2023 trainings and events. These events include but are not limited to: TB Unit training, statewide deadlines for TB reporting, and national public health conferences.
TB Screening for Uniting for Ukraine
DSHS recently released the fact sheet Tuberculosis Screening for Ukrainian Parolees: What Local and Regional Health Departments Need to Know.
On April 21, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) established the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) Program. This program established a pathway for Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members to come to the U.S. and stay for a two-year temporary period of parole. The federal U4U Program requires proof of tuberculosis (TB) screening within 90 days of arrival in the U.S.
Local and regional health department (L/RHD) TB programs should provide TB screening, report results, and when necessary, treat Ukrainians entering the U.S. through U4U.
Response to COVID-19
The TB and Hansen’s Disease Unit has developed guidance on temporary measures to minimize exposure to COVID-19 for clients and staff. Please continue to frequent this section, as information may change periodically.
1. Tuberculosis Action Plan to Minimize Exposure to COVID-19
2. Tuberculosis & COVID-19 Know the Difference - TB and COVID-19 have some similar symptoms. It is important to “Think TB” when symptoms and risk factors for TB are present. Learn more about the symptoms, risks, and public health response to COVID and TB.
3. Additional Resources and Information on the Coronavirus:
- Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index - National Institutes of Health (NIH)
nih.gov/health-information/coronavirus - World Health Organization (WHO) Information Note, Tuberculosis and COVID-19, Dated March 20, 2020
who.int/tb/COVID_19considerations_tuberculosis_services.pdf
Enroll in Medicaid as a TB Medicaid Provider
The DSHS Tuberculosis and Hansen’s Disease Unit encourages local health department TB programs to enroll in Medicaid as a TB Medicaid Provider.
Information on the enrollment process for first-time enrollees can be found on the Texas Medicaid and Healthcare Partnership (TMHP) website.
Clinics requesting reimbursement for TB services must also enroll as a TB Medicaid Provider. To enroll, the clinic must apply for a DSHS letter verifying their TB services and may attach the letter to their Medicaid application. To apply for the letter, clinics may fill out the Medicaid Provider Application.