Texas – Licensing Requirements for In-home Supportive Palliative Care

The legislation created Texas Health and Safety Code (HSC) Chapter 142A (relating to Supportive Palliative Care), establishing a definition of “supportive palliative care” and indicating that any reference to “palliative care” in law or the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) means supportive palliative care. The statute did not establish a category of licensure for the provision of supportive palliative care services—either standalone or as a category within an existing care delivery setting. Supportive palliative care services that are delivered in the home or in community settings, such as in assisted living facilities, are currently governed by HSC Chapter 142 (relating to Home and Community Support Services Agencies (HCSSA)). An HCSSA license is required.