July 2026 TMPPM Update: Key Changes for Telecommunications and Teledentistry
Effective July 01, 2026, the Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership, or TMHP, will update the Texas Medicaid Provider Procedures Manual, or TMPPM.
This update revises language related to record retention requirements for:
- Telemedicine medical services
- Telehealth services
- Teledentistry dental services
The change is being made in accordance with House Bill 1700, 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025.
Telecommunications services
The updated language will be added to the TMPPM Telecommunications Handbook, Section 3, “Services, Benefits, Limitations, and Prior Authorization.”
Health professionals who provide telemedicine or telehealth services must follow all applicable Texas laws, including the Texas Occupations Code, Title 3, as well as rules and standards set by their licensing or certifying boards.
This includes requirements related to:
- Obtaining and documenting informed consent for treatment
- Collecting and sharing data
- Protecting the privacy and security of client information
- Meeting all record retention requirements
Texas Health Steps dental diagnostic services
The update also applies to the TMPPM Children’s Services Handbook, Section 3.2.10, “Teledentistry Services.”
Texas Health Steps dental providers who offer teledentistry services must follow applicable Texas laws, including the Texas Occupations Code, Title 3, and any rules or standards set by the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners, or TSBDE.
Providers must also meet requirements for:
- Informed consent for treatment
- Documentation of consent
- Data collection
- Data sharing
- Client data privacy and security
- Record retention compliance
What providers should know?
This update does not remove the responsibility of providers to follow their licensing board rules. Instead, it clarifies that telemedicine, telehealth, and teledentistry providers must meet all legal, documentation, consent, privacy, security, and record retention standards that apply to their services.
Providers should review the updated TMPPM sections and make sure their internal policies, consent workflows, documentation practices, and record retention processes align with the new language.
Managed care reminder
Texas Medicaid managed care organizations, or MCOs, must provide all medically necessary Medicaid-covered services to members enrolled in their plans. However, administrative requirements may vary by MCO. This can include:
- Prior authorization
- Precertification
- Referrals
- Claims filing
- Encounter data submission
Providers should contact the member’s specific MCO for details, since MCO requirements may differ from traditional Medicaid fee-for-service and from one MCO to another.
Need more information?
For more details, providers can contact the TMHP Contact Center at 800-925-9126.
