By: Peyton Stephens, MS CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT, TSHA State Advocate for Reimbursement (STAR)

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is aware that some users of the new State of Texas Electronic Provider System (STEPS) have had trouble viewing all of their associated entities. Two issues—incorrect Primary Entity Contact (PEC) data and blocked access to the reporting tool required for quarterly Executive Order 46 (EO 46) reporting—have already been resolved after being reported by external users. HHSC is also working with providers to address two additional situations that may still affect users’ ability to view their entity information in STEPS.

Below is more information on these important updates regarding Provider Enrollment Management System (PEMS) records and primary contact information:

• NPI alignment issue fixed: Primary Entity Contacts (PECs) were not properly aligned with NPIs because the system pulled the original primary contact instead of the updated one. A system update on February 7 resolved this.

• Updating primary contact email:

  • If a primary contact email update is submitted in a PEMS request along with other pending changes, it will not update until all items in that request are completed.
  • To update the email immediately, submit a separate request for contact information only.
  • The update processes within 24 hours and will appear automatically in STEPS.
  • This is a user‑resolvable issue, not a system defect.

• Check "Approved Only Data": When reviewing PEMS information, ensure the “Approved Only Data” dropdown is selected, as STEPS receives only approved data.

Please share this information with appropriate staff within your organization to ensure accurate provider records.

View the full Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC) briefing.

If you have more questions, HHSC has encouraged contacting your usual provider support channel.