Advisory Committees

Visit the Meetings and Events page for upcoming and past meetings.

Texas Health and Human Services has more than 50 advisory committees to consider issues and receive public input on various areas of the agency. The HHS executive commissioner, Department of State Health Services (DSHS) commissioner, governor and speaker of the House and lieutenant governor appoint HHS advisory committee members in accordance with the authorizing statute or rule.

Learn more about advisory committee appointments made by the HHS executive commissioner.

For more information on the HHSC advisory committee appointment process, email HHS Appointments.

HHSC and DSHS Advisory Committees

Aging and Disability

HHSC

Behavioral Health

HHSC

  • Behavioral Health Advisory Committee provides customer, consumer and stakeholder input by making recommendations regarding the allocation and adequacy of behavioral health services and programs within the state of Texas.
  • Joint Committee on Access and Forensic Services develops recommendations for the bed day allocation methodology and the bed day utilization review protocol that includes a peer review process, and advises on a comprehensive plan for coordinating forensic services.
  • Psychiatric Executive Formulary Committee makes recommendations concerning drug use and maintains a closed formulary that lists drugs approved by the committee for use by service system components and their contractors.
  • Statewide Behavioral Health Coordinating Council develops, updates and oversees implementation of the Texas Statewide Behavioral Health Strategic Plan, which outlines a coordinated effort to address behavioral health gaps in services and systems.

Disease Prevention

HHSC

  • Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force studies and makes recommendations on developing and implementing a cost-effective state plan for prevention, early screening, diagnosis and management of chronic kidney disease for the state's population through national, state and local partners; and educates health care professionals on the use of clinical practice guidelines for screening, detecting, diagnosing, treating and managing chronic kidney disease, its comorbidities, and its complications.

DSHS

  • Sickle Cell Task Force raises public awareness of sickle cell disease and sickle cell trait.
  • Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response provides expert, evidence-based assessments, protocols and recommendations related to state responses to infectious diseases, and serves as a reliable and transparent source of information and education for Texas leadership and citizens.
  • Texas Council on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders advises DSHS and recommends needed action for the benefit of people with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders and their caregivers.
  • Texas Council on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke conducts health education, public awareness and community outreach; improves access to treatment; coordinates activities among state agencies; and develops a database of recommendations for treatment and care.
  • Texas Diabetes Council addresses issues affecting people with diabetes in Texas and advises the Texas Legislature on legislation needed to develop and maintain a statewide system of quality education services for all people with diabetes and health care professionals who offer diabetes treatment and education.
  • Texas HIV Medication Advisory Committee advises in the development of procedures and guidelines for the Texas HIV Medication Program, reviews program's goals and aims, evaluates ongoing efforts, and recommends short- and long-term goals and objectives.

Licensing and Regulation

HHSC

  • Board for Evaluation of Interpreters Advisory Committee advises the HHS executive commissioner or a designee on administering the interpreter certification program. The committee also helps develop the qualifications for each level of certification based on proficiency.
  • Long-Term Care Facilities Council studies and makes recommendations on a more consistent survey and informal dispute resolution process for long-term care facilities, the Medicaid quality-based payment systems for these facilities, and the allocation of Medicaid beds in these facilities.
  • Nursing Facility Administrators Advisory Committee provides recommendations for licensure sanctions and rule changes for the Nursing Facility Administrator Licensing Program.
  • Perinatal Advisory Council develops and recommends criteria for designating levels of neonatal and maternal care.

DSHS

  • Governor's Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Trauma Advisory Council promotes, develops and maintains a comprehensive EMS and trauma system that meets the needs of all patients and will raise the standards for community health care by implementing innovative techniques and systems for the delivery of emergency care for the entire population.
  • Medical Advisory Board helps reduce traffic death, disability and injury by evaluating medical histories, providing medical opinions and making recommendations to the Texas Department of Public Safety regarding the medical limitations of referred driver licensees and candidates, and concealed handgun licensees and candidates.
  • Promotor(a) - Community Health Worker Training and Certification Advisory Committee advises on rules concerning training and regulating promoters and community health workers.
  • Texas Radiation Advisory Board reviews and evaluates state radiation policies, programs and proposed rules. The board also makes recommendations and provides technical advice that may be required on matters relating to the development, use and regulation of sources of radiation.

Maternal and Child Health

HHSC

DSHS

  • Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee studies maternal mortality and morbidity by studying and reviewing cases of pregnancy-related deaths and trends in severe maternal morbidity, determining the feasibility of the task force studying cases of severe maternal morbidity, and recommending ways to help reduce the incidence of pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity in Texas.
  • Newborn Screening Advisory Committee advises DSHS regarding strategic planning, policy, rules and services related to newborn screening.
  • State Child Fatality Review Team Committee looks to reduce preventable child deaths by understanding their causes and incidences, identifying procedures to reduce the number of preventable deaths, and promoting public awareness.
  • Stock Epinephrine Advisory Committee examines and reviews the administration of epinephrine auto-injectors to a person experiencing an anaphylactic reaction on a campus of a school district or an open-enrollment charter school.
  • Texas School Health Advisory Committee provides active leadership in identifying and disseminating school health best practices and resources for school policymakers.
  • Youth Camp Advisory Committee provides advice on developing standards, procedures and rules to implement the Youth Camp Act.

Medicaid and Managed Care

HHSC

  • Drug Utilization Review Board develops and submits recommendations for the preferred drug list, suggests clinical prior authorizations on outpatient prescription drugs, recommends education interventions for Medicaid providers, and reviews drug usage across Medicaid programs.
  • Hospital Payment Advisory Committee, a subcommittee of the Medical Care Advisory Committee, advises that committee and HHS about hospital reimbursement methodologies for inpatient hospital prospective payment and on adjustments for disproportionate share hospitals.
  • Medical Care Advisory Committee is federally mandated to review and make recommendations to the state Medicaid director on proposed rules that involve Medicaid policy or affect Medicaid-funded programs.
  • State Medicaid Managed Care Advisory Committee provides recommendations and ongoing input on the statewide implementation and operation of Medicaid managed care.
  • Value-Based Payment and Quality Improvement Advisory Committee provides a forum to promote public-private, multi-stakeholder collaboration in support of quality improvement and value-based payment initiatives for Medicaid, other publicly funded health services and the wider health care system.

Public Health and Health Care Policy

HHSC

  • e-Health Advisory Committee advises the HHS executive commissioner and HHS agencies on strategic planning, policy, rules and services related to the use of health information technology, health information exchange systems, telemedicine, telehealth and home telemonitoring services.
  • Palliative Care Interdisciplinary Advisory Council consults with and advises on matters related to the establishment, maintenance, operation and outcome evaluation of the statewide palliative care consumer and professional information and education program.
  • Texas Brain Injury Advisory Council addresses strategic planning, policy, rules and services related to brain injury prevention, rehabilitation and the provision of long-term services and supports for persons who have survived brain injuries to improve their quality of life and ability to function independently in the home and community.

DSHS

Independent Advisory Committees

Independent advisory committees include councils, boards, task forces or agencies administratively attached to HHSC.

  • Council on Sex Offender Treatment sets standards of practice for sex offender treatment providers within the state.
  • Texas Civil Commitment Office is a small state agency providing intensive supervision and treatment to sexually violent predators while focused on public safety.
  • Texas Medical Disclosure Panel determines which risks and hazards related to medical care and surgical procedures must be disclosed by health care providers or physicians to their patients or persons authorized to consent for their patients, and establishes the general form and substance of such disclosure.
  • Texas Pharmaceutical Initiative Board, which governs the Texas Pharmaceutical Initiative, was created to provide greater and more cost-effective access to prescription drugs and essential medical supplies.

State Boards

The following state boards are regulated by the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council: