STAR & CHIP Providers

     

Provider Portal

FirstCare providers have access to our online self-service portal. Here, you can look up claims, request an authorization, appeal a claim, and much more. Log in/register to the Provider Portal

Becoming a New Provider

Interested in joining our network? Please visit the Becoming a New Provider page for general information. The following pertains specifically to our STAR & CHIP providers:

Credentialing Forms

Click on the links below to view/download FirstCare's Provider Credentialing forms:

• Institutional Provider Credentialing Application (For application instructions, click here.)
• Expedited Credentialing Addendum
• Mid-Level Hospital Waiver
• Texas Standardized Credentialing Application
• Practitioner Credentialing Checklist
• Facility Initial Checklist
• Letter of Interest
• W-9

Expedited Credentialing

The expedited credentialing process allows providers to participate in the FirstCare network on a provisional basis. This provisional status is available if:

• Provider is a first time applicant to FirstCare and provisional credentialing request is based on a critical need of the members.
• Provider is joining as a partner, shareholder or employee of a currently contracted and  credentialed FirstCare provider in good standing.
• Provider has submitted the appropriate paperwork, including a complete Texas Standard Credentialing Application with current attestation.
• The applicable Regional Medical Director has reviewed the request and determined the application cannot be completed in 30 days or less.
• The required verifications must indicate the file is clean. This includes a state license in good standing with the appropriate medical board, as well as a clean NPDB query.

All provisionally approved providers must agree to comply with the terms of the FirstCare contract currently in force with the applicant physician’s established medical group. The full credentialing process must be completed within 60 calendar days of the date a physician is granted provisional status.

Provider Availability of Services
FirstCare monitors compliance for availability of services standards. In order to ensure the best quality of care for our members, we ask participating providers to operate within the standards described in the Minimum Requirements for Provider Availability of Services.

STAR & CHIP Provider Training

• View/download the FirstCare STAR & CHIP Provider Training Workshop
• View/download the FirstCare STAR & CHIP Provider Resource Book

Cultural Competency
An effective health communication is as important to health care as clinical skill. To improve individual health and build healthy communities, health care providers need to recognize and address the unique culture, language and health literacy of diverse consumers and communities.

Additional cultural competency resources can be found on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health website. 

Complaints & Appeals

Filing complaints & appeals to FirstCare STAR

• Call: 1-800-431-7798,
• Fax: 1-877-878-8422, 
• Email: csinfo@firstcare.com, or
• Mail to: FirstCare STAR
  Attn: Customer Service Department
  1901 West Loop 289 Ste. 9
  Lubbock, TX 79407  

 Filing complaints & appeals to FirstCare CHIP

• Call: 1-877-639-2447,
• Fax: 1-877-878-8422, 
• Email: csinfo@firstcare.com, or
• Mail to: FirstCare CHIP
  Attn: Customer Service Department
  1901 West Loop 289 Ste. 9
  Lubbock, TX 79407  

Filing complaints to HHSC

• Email: HPM_Complaints@hhsc.state.tx.us, or
• Mail to: Texas Health and Human Services Commission
  Health Plan Operations – Resolution Services H-320
  P.O. Box 85200
  Austin, TX 78708

Filing complaints to TDI

• Call: 1-800-252-3439, OR
• Mail to: Texas Department of Insurance
  P.O. Box 149104
  Austin, TX 78714-9104