Communication Services for State Agencies (CSSA)

The Health and Human Services Commission, Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (ODHHS) contracts with interpreter and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) referral agencies around the state to provide communication access services for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing to state agencies that contract with ODHHS.

By doing so, state agencies have access to the rate HHSC has negotiated with referral agencies statewide.

How CSSA Works

State agencies request services directly from the ODHHS referral agencies. At the end of the month in which services were provided, the ODHHS referral agencies bill ODHHS. ODHHS consolidates all invoices into one invoice for the receiving state agency. A ten percent administrative fee is added to services billed.

This contract eliminates the need for continually issuing individual purchase orders for services. In addition, ODHHS helps ensure appropriate and qualified services are provided and resolves any complaints that may be filed against the service provider or referral agency. If you are interested in this program, email Krystina Flanigan.

What is CART?

Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) is a process in which a shorthand reporter using a stenotype machine and real-time translation software converts the spoken word into text.

Current State Agencies Receiving Services

Office of the Attorney General

DHHS provides communication access services for the OAG's programs at the request of OAG employees. Scheduled and last minute walk-ins are covered.

Office of the Governor

DHHS provides communication access services for Office of the Governor at the request of Office of the Governor employees.

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

DHHS provides communication access services for DFPS employees, at the request of DFPS Language Services Liaisons, who need to communicate with consumers of DFPS. DFPS employees or a DFPS designee will make service requests by faxing their requests to the DHHS-contracted service provider of their choice.

Texas Department of State Health Services

DHHS provides communication access services for Department of State Health Services programs at the request of DSHS employees.

Texas Education Agency

DHHS provides communication access services for Texas Education Agency programs at the request of TEA employees.

Texas Health and Human Services Commission

DHHS provides communication access service for employees and consumers of HHSC. HHSC employees or an HHSC designee can request services. HHSC assignments 100 miles or more one way require prior approval from HHSC Operations and Support Services for appropriate out-of-area travel costs. A completed request form is required for services provided.

Texas Health and Human Services Commission-Substance Abuse

DHHS provides communication access services for consumers of public and private, non-profit HHSC-SA service providers, and court ordered participants of Driving While Intoxicated Education, DWI Intervention, Drug Offender Education and Alcohol Awareness for Minors Programs through HHSC-SA funded service providers. Peer support group meetings, Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, are generally not billable under this agreement. EXCEPTION: Consumers receiving HHSC-SA funded treatment and transitioning from residential to outpatient services who are still in need of communication access services are billable. To use this agreement, the HHSC-SA provider must be licensed, receive HHSC-SA funding and initiate the service request using an HHSC-SA approved request form.

Texas Health and Human Service Commission-Women, Infants, and Children

DHHS provides communication access service for employees and consumers of WIC. WIC employees or a WIC designee can request services.

Texas Parks and Wildlife

DHHS provides communication access services for Texas Parks and Wildlife programs at the request of TPWD employees.

Texas State Office of Administrative Hearings

DHHS provides communication access services for State Office of Administrative Hearings programs at the request of SOAH employees.

Texas Railroad Commission

DHHS provides communication access services for Railroad Commission programs at the request of RRC employees.

Texas Water Development Board

DHHS provides communication access services for Texas Water Development Board programs at the request of TWDB employees.

Texas Workforce Commission

DHHS provides communication access services for consumers who are requesting services. Requests will be made by Regina Hajek. The Texas Workforce Board Commission or one of their contractors, may be known as Workforce Solutions, is not part of this agreement.