Abortion Facilities

As defined by Texas Health and Safety Code Section 245.002, an abortion facility is a place where abortions are performed.

Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 245 establishes the state licensing requirements for abortion facilities and Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 171, also referred to as the Woman’s Right to Know Act, establishes requirements for the reporting of abortions and a patient’s informed consent to the abortion. Under state law, HHSC is responsible for adopting and enforcing rules and issuing and overseeing the licensing and regulation of abortion facilities in Texas. The Regulatory Services Division within HHSC carries out these duties.

HHSC adopts rules for abortion facilities including establishing standards for:

Abortion Reporting

Texas Health and Safety Code Chapters 245 and 171 require abortion facilities and physicians that provide abortion services to report to HHSC certain information about abortion procedures the provider performs. HHSC must follow strict confidentiality provisions in the law regarding any information about an abortion facility. The law does allow HHSC to release statistical information reported to HHSC by abortion providers. The HHSC Office of Data, Analytics, and Performance (DAP) compiles this statistical information and publishes it on HHSC’s Induced Termination of Pregnancy Statistics webpage.

Abortion Reporting Forms

The following forms are required to be submitted by the physician to DAP:

The following form is required to be submitted by the facility to DAP:

For questions regarding the statutory and regulatory abortion reporting requirements, please email HHSC Health Care Regulation Policies and Rules.

For assistance completing the online forms, for technical support, or to provide feedback on the user experience, email HHSC ITOP Reporting.

Laws and Rules

Texas Laws

Rules

Find or Verify a License

Licensing

An applicant seeking an abortion facility license must submit a completed application, license fee, and other applicable documents to HHSC. The Health Facility Licensing Unit will not process an application until after HHSC Accounts Receivable receives and posts the license fee.

Refer to the application or instructions linked in this section for specific requirements.

HHSC must review and approve all required application materials received and the facility must pass a pre-licensing inspection before HHSC may issue a license to an applicant.

Initial Licensure Application

Change of Ownership Application

Relocation Application

Renewal Licensure Application

Supporting Forms and Documents

Complaint and Incident Submission Information

Inspection Components

HHSC conducts health compliance on-site inspections to determine compliance with the provisions of the Health and Safety Code and associated rules listed in the Laws and Rules section of this page. During the inspection, HHSC staff generally perform the following tasks:

  • Conduct an entrance and an exit conference with applicable facility personnel
  • Explain the inspection process and answer questions
  • Review clinical records
  • Review facility and personnel records
  • Review facility policies and procedures
  • Review quality assurance activities
  • Interview staff
  • Assess the facility's compliance with applicable statutes and rules
  • Discuss the inspection findings with applicable facility personnel

Enforcement Actions

Public Information Regarding Facility Licensure and Compliance Status

Call the toll-free phone number for abortion facility licensure, inspection, and enforcement information:

Human Trafficking Resources

Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments Information

Refer to our CLIA information page. For more information on CLIA, please contact your regional office (PDF).

Contact Information

Health Care Regulation

For Health Care Regulation contact information, visit our Contact Us page.

Health Care Facility Enforcement

Phone: 512-438-5439
Fax: 512-438-3697
Email: Health.Facilities.Enforcement@hhsc.state.tx.us
Mailing Address:
Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Regulatory Services Division
Health Care Facility Enforcement, MC 1866
P.O. Box 149347
Austin, TX 78714-9347

Open Records Requests

Texas Health and Human Services is committed to providing full access to public information. For information on how to submit an open records request, read the Open Records Policy and Procedures.