Texas

Claims & billing

A/B MAC -- A/B Medicare Administrative Contractor

Novitas Solutions, LLC
Questions regarding — Claims & billing
Part A and B bills and services, hospital care, skilled nursing care, and fraud.
Toll free: (800) 633-4227

Benefits Coordination & Recovery Center (BCRC)

Benefits Coordination & Recovery Center (BCRC)
Questions regarding — Claims & billing
Medicare Secondary Payer, and who pays first.
Toll free: (855) 798-2627

DME MAC -- Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractor

CGS Administrators, LLC
Questions regarding — Claims & billing
Bills for durable medical equipment and a list of approved suppliers of this equipment.
Toll free: (800) 633-4227

OIG (DHHS) -- Office of the Inspector General (Department of Health and Human Services)

Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General
Questions regarding — Claims & billing
Reporting fraud.
Toll free: (800) 447-8477
TDD: (800) 377-4950
Local Phone: (202) 619-1343

RHHI -- Regional Home Health Intermediary

Noridian
Questions regarding — Claims & billing
Home health, hospice care, and fraud.
Toll free: (800) 633-4227

RRB Carrier - Railroad Retirement Board Carrier

Noridian
Questions regarding — Claims & billing
(For Railroad Retirement beneficiaries only) - Part B bills and services.
Toll free: (888) 355-9165
Local Phone: (877) 288-7600

Complaints about my care or services

Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care

Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care
Questions regarding — Complaints about my care or services
Finding out if urgent care centers and ambulatory surgical centers are accredited or not.
Local Phone: (847) 853-6060

American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities

American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities
Questions regarding — Complaints about my care or services
Finding out if an ambulatory surgical center is accredited or not.
Toll free: (888) 545-5222
Local Phone: (847) 775-1970

American Board of Medical Specialties

American Board of Medical Specialties
Questions regarding — Complaints about my care or services
Finding out if a doctor is board certified.
Toll free: (866) 275-2267
Local Phone: (312) 436-2600

American Hospital Association

American Hospital Association
Questions regarding — Complaints about my care or services
Finding a voluntary list of patients' rights in a hospital.
Toll free: (800) 424-4301
Local Phone: (312) 422-3000

Beneficiary and Family Centered Care Quality Improvement Organization (BFCC-QIO)

KePRO
Questions regarding — Complaints about my care or services
Complaints about quality of care, and filing an appeal or complaint.
Toll free: (844) 430-9504
Local Phone: (216) 447-9604

Center for Health Dispute Resolution (CHDR)

MAXIMUS Center for Health Dispute Resolution (CHDR)
Questions regarding — Complaints about my care or services
Requesting external reviews of Medicare managed care denials.
Local Phone: (585) 425-5210

College of American Pathologists

College of American Pathologists
Questions regarding — Complaints about my care or services
Finding out if the lab where your blood tests are sent is accredited or not.
Toll free: (800) 323-4040
Local Phone: (847) 832-7000

ESRD -- End-Stage Renal Disease Networks

ESRD Network of Texas - Network 14
Questions regarding — Complaints about my care or services
Where to submit a complaint about the quality of care I received from my kidney dialysis facility.
Toll free: (877) 886-4435
Local Phone: (972) 503-3215

ESRD State Survey Agency

Department State Health Services- Facility Licensing Group & Regulartory Licensing Unit
Questions regarding — Complaints about my care or services
Complaints about the quality of care in dialysis facilities.
Local Phone: (512) 834-6646

Home Health Agency

Department of Aging and Disability Services
Questions regarding — Complaints about my care or services
Home Health Care which is skilled nursing care and certain other health care services that you get in your home for the treatment of an illness or injury.
Toll free: (800) 458-9858
Local Phone: (512) 438-2633

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
Questions regarding — Complaints about my care or services
Finding out if your health care organization is accredited or not.
Local Phone: (630) 792-5800

Medicaid - Report Fraud

Health and Human Services Commission
Questions regarding — Complaints about my care or services
Report Medicaid fraud and abuse.
Toll free: (800) 436-6184
Local Phone: (512) 491-2000

Nursing Home State Survey Agency

Department of Aging and Disability Services
Questions regarding — Complaints about my care or services
Where to submit a complaint about the quality of life or quality of care inside a nursing home.
Toll free: (800) 458-9858
Local Phone: (512) 438-4800

Office for Civil Rights

Office for Civil Rights of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas
Questions regarding — Complaints about my care or services
Submitting a complaint about discrimination.
Local Phone: (214) 767-4056

Ombudsman

Long Term Care Ombudsman of Texas
Questions regarding — Complaints about my care or services
Obtaining information on nursing homes or resolving problems between nursing homes and residents or their families.
Toll free: (800) 252-2412

Quality Innovation Network Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO)

TMF
Questions regarding — Complaints about my care or services
Local and community level projects to improve patient safety, reduce harm, and improve clinical care.
Toll free: (800) 725-9216
TDD: (877) 486-2048
Local Phone: (512) 329-6610

Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)

The Better Business Bureau Education Foundation
Questions regarding — Complaints about my care or services
Complaints about quality of care, and filing an appeal or complaint.
Toll free: (888) 341-6187

General health & health conditions

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Questions regarding — General health & health conditions
Ordering brochures on Choosing a Hospital. Choosing Treatments and Choosing a Hospital.
Toll free: (800) 358-9295
TDD: (888) 586-6340

American Association of Kidney Patients

American Association of Kidney Patients
Questions regarding — General health & health conditions
Educational materials for people with kidney disease.
Toll free: (800) 749-2257
Local Phone: (813) 636-8100

American Cancer Society

American Cancer Society
Questions regarding — General health & health conditions
Finding information on cancer.
Toll free: (800) 227-2345
TDD: (866) 228-4327

American Heart Association

American Heart Association
Questions regarding — General health & health conditions
Finding information on heart disease.
Toll free: (800) 242-8721
Local Phone: (214) 570-2000
Spanish Phone: (800) 242-8721

American Kidney Fund

American Kidney Fund
Questions regarding — General health & health conditions
Financial assistance and educational materials for people with kidney disease.
Toll free: (800) 638-8299
Local Phone: (301) 881-3052
Spanish Phone: (866) 300-2900

Internal Revenue Service

Internal Revenue Service
Questions regarding — General health & health conditions
Obtaining materials/forms for income tax filing and how Medicare Savings Accounts can affect my income taxes.
Toll free: (800) 829-1040

National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service

National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service
Questions regarding — General health & health conditions
Information on cancer treatments, clinical trails, alternative medicine, coping with side effects, and other cancer related information.
Toll free: (800) 422-6237

National Institute on Aging Information Center

National Institute on Aging Information Center
Questions regarding — General health & health conditions
Discussing health concerns, medicines, and other issues important to older people.
Toll free: (800) 222-2225
TDD: (800) 222-4225

National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information

National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information
Questions regarding — General health & health conditions
Educational materials for people with kidney disease.
Toll free: (800) 891-5390
Local Phone: (301) 654-4415

National Kidney Foundation, Inc.

National Kidney Foundation, Inc.
Questions regarding — General health & health conditions
Support groups and educational materials for people with kidney disease.
Toll free: (800) 622-9010
Local Phone: (212) 889-2210

Health care facilities & services in my area

American Self-Help Clearinghouse

American Self-Help Clearinghouse
Questions regarding — Health care facilities & services in my area
Finding specific health support groups in your area.
Toll free: (800) 367-6274
Local Phone: (973) 989-1122

CHIP -- Children's Health Insurance Program

TexCare Partnership
Questions regarding — Health care facilities & services in my area
Health insurance programs to children whose families earn too much to be eligible for Medicaid, but not enough to purchase private insurance.
Toll free: (800) 647-6558
TDD: (800) 735-2988

Eldercare Location

DC longterm care Ombudsman program
Questions regarding — Health care facilities & services in my area
Finding necessary and convenient services that serve the elderly in their community.
Toll free: (800) 677-1116
Local Phone: (202) 434-2120

Primary Care Association

Association of Community Health Centers, Inc. of Texas
Questions regarding — Health care facilities & services in my area
Finding a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) closest to me to help me lower my health care costs. FQHCs include community health centers, tribal health clinics, migrant health services, and health centers for the homeless.
Local Phone: (512) 329-5959

State Hospice Organization

Texas and New Mexico Hospice Organization
Questions regarding — Health care facilities & services in my area
To find a hospice program in my area.
Toll free: (800) 580-9270
Local Phone: (512) 454-1247

Help with my Medicare options & issues

1-800-MEDICARE

1-800-MEDICARE
Questions regarding — Help with my Medicare options & issues
General Medicare information, ordering Medicare booklets, and information about health plans.
Toll free: (800) 633-4227

CMS RO - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Regional Office

CMS, Dallas Regional Office
Questions regarding — Help with my Medicare options & issues
Information on local seminars and health fairs on Medicare health plan choices, or to report a complaint directly to CMS.
Local Phone: (214) 767-6423

RRB -- Railroad Retirement Board

Railroad Retirement Board
Questions regarding — Help with my Medicare options & issues
(For Railroad Retirement beneficiaries only) - RRB benefits, lost RRB Medicare card, address change, and enrolling in Medicare.
Toll free: (877) 772-5772

SHIP -- State Health Insurance Assistance Program

Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (HICAP)
Questions regarding — Help with my Medicare options & issues
Personalized health insurance counseling
Toll free: (800) 252-9240
TDD: (800) 735-2989

SSA -- Social Security Administration

Social Security Administration
Questions regarding — Help with my Medicare options & issues
Changing my address, Medicare Part A or Part B, lost Medicare card, and Social Security benefits.
Toll free: (800) 772-1213

State Department of Insurance

Insurance Department of Texas
Questions regarding — Help with my Medicare options & issues
Medigap Policies
Toll free: (800) 252-3439
Local Phone: (512) 463-6169

Other insurance programs

CHIP -- Insure Kids Now

Children's Health Insurance Program
Questions regarding — Other insurance programs
Children's Health Insurance Program
Toll free: (877) 543-7669

Department of Defense

Department of Defense
Questions regarding — Other insurance programs
Whether I qualify for military retiree health care benefits.
Local Phone: (703) 571-3343

Department of Veterans Affairs

Department of Veterans Affairs
Questions regarding — Other insurance programs
VA medical benefits.
Toll free: (800) 827-1000

Federal Black Lung Program

Federal Black Lung Program
Questions regarding — Other insurance programs
Finding out where my doctor should send the bills for the diagnosis and treatment of my black lung disease.
Toll free: (800) 638-7072

HUD -- U.S. Department of Housing

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Questions regarding — Other insurance programs
Information and services about homes and communities for citizens and for HUD's current and potential home buyers.
Toll free: (800) 569-4287
Local Phone: (202) 708-1112

Office of Personnel Management

Office of Personnel Management
Questions regarding — Other insurance programs
Claims and other issues for retired federal employees and their dependents/survivors.
Toll free: (888) 767-6738
TDD: (800) 878-5707
Local Phone: (202) 606-1800

State Health Departments

Department State Health Services- Facility Licensing Group & Regulartory Licensing Unit
Questions regarding — Other insurance programs
Health based programs and services.
Local Phone: (512) 458-7111

State Medical Assistance Office

Health and Human Services Commission of Texas
Questions regarding — Other insurance programs
Medicaid program
Toll free: (877) 541-7905
Local Phone: (512) 424-6500

About Texas

Texas is the second largest state in the United States by area (after Alaska) and population (after California). Geographically located in the South Central region of the country, Texas shares borders with the U.S. states of Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the west, and the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas to the southwest, and has a coastline with the Gulf of Mexico to the southeast.

Houston is the most populous city in Texas and the fourth largest in the U.S., while San Antonio is the second-most populous in the state and seventh largest in the U.S. Dallas–Fort Worth and Greater Houston are the fourth and fifth largest metropolitan statistical areas in the country, respectively. Other major cities include Austin, the second-most populous state capital in the U.S., and El Paso. Texas is nicknamed "The Lone Star State" to signify its former status as an independent republic, and as a reminder of the state's struggle for independence from Mexico. The "Lone Star" can be found on the Texas state flag and on the Texan state seal. The origin of Texas's name is from the word taysha, which means "friends" in the Caddo language.

Due to its size and geologic features such as the Balcones Fault, Texas contains diverse landscapes common to both the U.S. Southern and Southwestern regions. Although Texas is popularly associated with the U.S. southwestern deserts, less than 10% of Texas's land area is desert. Most of the population centers are in areas of former prairies, grasslands, forests, and the coastline. Traveling from east to west, one can observe terrain that ranges from coastal swamps and piney woods, to rolling plains and rugged hills, and finally the desert and mountains of the Big Bend.

Source: Wikipedia