As defined by Texas Health and Safety Code Section 248.002, a special care facility is an institution or establishment that provides a continuum of nursing or medical care or services primarily to persons with acquired immune deficiency syndrome or other terminal illnesses. Special residential care facilities are considered SCFs.
Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 248 establishes the state licensing requirements for SCFs. Under state law, HHSC is responsible for the licensing and regulation of SCFs in Texas, and the Regulatory Services Division within HHSC carries out these duties.
HHSC adopts rules for SCFs including establishing standards for:
- Licensing procedures and fees
- License denial, probation, suspension, and revocation
- Qualifications, duties, and supervision of professional and nonprofessional personnel and volunteers
- Facility residents' rights
- Medical and nursing care and services provided by a license holder
- Facility organizational structure, lines of authority, delegation of responsibility, and facility operational requirements
- Recordkeeping, including the disposal or destruction of those records
- Any facility aspects necessary to protect the public or facility residents
- Inspection, investigation, and enforcement procedures
- Design, construction, fire prevention, sanitary, and safety requirements
SCFs are not certified to participate in the federal Medicare Program.
Laws and Rules
Texas Laws
- Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 248
- Texas Administrative Code Title 26, Part 1, Chapter 506, Special Care Facilities
Find or Verify a License
- Verify a facility license by searching the Online Licensing System
- View the Accessible Version of the Directory of Licensed Special Care Facilities (Excel)
- View the Directory of Special Care Facilities (PDF)
Licensing
An applicant seeking an SCF 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 before issuing a license to an applicant.
Initial Licensure Application
Change of Ownership Application
Relocation Application
Architectural Review Information and Forms
Refer to the Architectural Review information.
Complaint and Incident Submission Information
- Incidents Submission Portal for Health Care Regulation Providers
- File a Complaint for a Health Facility
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 activities:
- 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 final inspection findings with applicable facility personnel
Enforcement Actions
Human Trafficking Resources
Contact Information
Health Care Regulation Contact Information
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, visit the Open Records Policy and Procedures webpage.