Texas Administrative Code Title 25 - HEALTH SERVICES
Title 25 of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) is a comprehensive body of regulations related to **HEALTH SERVICES** in the state. It is primarily managed by the **Department of State Health Services (DSHS)**, but also includes regulations from other significant health-related entities within the Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) system.
The regulations within Title 25 cover a vast array of topics aimed at protecting public health and safety, licensing healthcare facilities and professionals, and administering public health programs.
Here's a general overview of the parts and types of content you'd find in Title 25:
**Part 1: Department of State Health Services (DSHS)**
This is the largest and most extensive part of Title 25, covering a wide range of DSHS responsibilities. Key areas include:
* **Public Health Programs and Services:**
* **Emergency Preparedness:** Regulations for state and local emergency preparedness, including disaster response plans and public health emergencies.
* **Disease Prevention and Control:** Rules for reporting and managing communicable diseases (infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS), chronic diseases (like diabetes and cardiovascular disease), immunization requirements, and sexually transmitted diseases.
* **Maternal and Infant Health Services:** Regulations for programs supporting the health of mothers and infants, including school-based health centers.
* **Nutrition Services:** Standards and guidelines for nutrition programs.
* **Oral Health Improvement Program:** Regulations related to dental health initiatives.
* **Environmental Health:** Rules concerning food establishments (e.g., Texas Food Establishment Rules, often adopting FDA Food Code by reference), youth camps (safety and health standards), water quality, waste disposal, and radiation control.
* **Vital Statistics:** Regulations for birth and death records, and other health data compilation.
* **Health Planning and Resource Development:** Rules related to healthcare infrastructure and planning.
* **Grants:** Regulations for various public health improvement grants.
* **Licensing and Regulation of Healthcare Facilities and Services:**
* **Hospitals:** Comprehensive licensing requirements for general hospitals, private psychiatric hospitals, crisis stabilization units, special hospitals (e.g., cardiac, orthopedic, women's health), and limited services rural hospitals. This includes physical plant and construction requirements (e.g., adherence to NFPA 101 Life Safety Code), staffing, patient care, and administrative rules.
* **Laboratories:** Regulations for clinical laboratories (often aligning with CLIA standards).
* **Ambulatory Surgical Centers:** Licensing and operational requirements.
* **Home and Community Support Services Agencies (HCSSAs):** While HHSC licenses these, DSHS may have related standards for services.
* **Nursing Facilities and Assisted Living Facilities:** While HHSC directly licenses these, DSHS may have roles in public health aspects or specialized units.
* **Blood Establishments:** Regulations for blood banks and collection centers.
* **Birthing Centers:** Licensing and operational standards.
* **Dialysis Facilities:** Regulations for End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) facilities.
* **Emergency Medical Services (EMS):** Licensing of EMS providers and services, including requirements for ambulances and personnel.
* **Hospice Providers:** Licensing and operational standards.
* **Mental Health Services:**
* **State Mental Health Authority Responsibilities:** Outlines the role of DSHS as the state's mental health authority.
* **Local Mental Health Authority Responsibilities:** Regulations for local mental health authorities, including contracts management, charges for services, and provider clinical responsibilities.
* **Rights and Protections of Persons Receiving Mental Health Services:** Ensures patient rights in mental health settings.
* **Protection of Clients and Staff:** Rules for safety and prevention of abuse in mental health services.
* **Miscellaneous Provisions:** General administrative rules, definitions, and procedures applicable across DSHS operations.
**Other Parts of Title 25:**
While Part 1 (DSHS) is the largest, Title 25 also contains regulations from other health-related state entities:
* **Part 4: Anatomical Board of the State of Texas:** Regulations concerning the donation, handling, and disposition of anatomical gifts for medical education and research.
* **Part 6: Statewide Health Coordinating Council:** Rules related to health planning and policy coordination across the state.
* **Part 7: Texas Medical Disclosure Panel:** Regulations specifying the risks and hazards of medical and surgical procedures that must be disclosed to patients.
* **Part 9: Texas Diabetes Council:** Rules related to diabetes prevention, education, and management programs.
* **Part 11: Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT):** Regulations for the administration of grants and initiatives for cancer prevention and research.
* **Part 12: Texas Council on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders:** Rules for programs and initiatives related to Alzheimer's and similar conditions.
* **Part 14: Toxic Substances Coordinating Committee:** Regulations concerning hazardous substances and their public health implications.
* **Part 15: Council on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke:** Rules related to programs for preventing and managing cardiovascular disease and stroke.
It's important to remember that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has overall oversight of the entire HHS system, which includes DSHS. HHSC also has its own set of administrative rules (primarily in Title 1 and Title 40 of the TAC) that cover programs like Medicaid, CHIP, long-term care services, and licensing of specific facilities such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and child care providers. There is often collaboration and interconnectedness between the rules under Title 25 (DSHS focus) and those under HHSC (broader services and oversight).
For the most precise and up-to-date information, always consult the official Texas Administrative Code website maintained by the Secretary of State, or the websites of the Texas Department of State Health Services (dshs.texas.gov) and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (hhs.texas.gov).
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