TB Program News and Announcements
Notice from the Texas Department of State Health Services
Most DSHS TB/HIV/STD Section staff have relocated on short notice in the past few months. This quick relocation to temporary office locations have presented challenges. Future staff relocations are planned. We continue to be committed to continuing our programming for prevention, care, and treatment of TB, HIV, and STD. |
March 24 is World TB Day World TB Day is observed annually on March 24, to raise public awareness that tuberculosis (TB) remains an epidemic in much of the world. It also commemorates the day in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch announced his discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacillus that causes TB.
The U.S. theme for World TB Day 2019 is, “It’s Time. End TB.” Tuberculosis is one of world’s oldest diseases and continues to be the world’s deadliest infectious killer. Each day, nearly 4,500 people lose their lives to TB and close to 30,000 people fall ill to this preventable and curable disease. Learn more
Tuberculosis in Texas
In 2017, 1,127 cases of tuberculosis (TB) were reported in Texas, a rate of 4.0 per 100,000 population. TB can affect anyone but is more likely to be diagnosed in persons born in a foreign country where TB is prevalent, persons living with diabetes or HIV/AIDS, persons who abuse alcohol and other drugs, persons who live in congregant settings (including prisons and other detention centers), people who experience homelessness, and health care workers. Learn more... (PDF : 440 kB)
Posted 7/20/2018
Take on TB
DSHS has developed the Texas-specific TB disease data fact sheet
"Take on TB" (PDF : 208 kB) based on data from the
2016 TB Surveillance report (PDF : 675 kB). This fact sheet was adapted from
CDC’s infograph [CDC] for national data. DSHS partners are free to use surveillance and other local data to create their own
tailored [CDC] publication based on the DSHS fact sheet.
Posted 12/12/2017
Enroll in Medicaid as a TB Medicaid Provider
The Tuberculosis and Hansen’s Disease Branch encourages local health department TB programs to enroll in Medicaid as a TB Medicaid Provider.
Information on the enrollment process for first time enrollees can be found on the
Texas Medicaid and Healthcare Partnership (TMHP) website.
Clinics requesting reimbursement for TB services must also enroll as a TB Medicaid Provider. To enroll, the clinic must apply for a DSHS letter verifying their TB services, and may attach the letter to their Medicaid application. To apply for the letter, clinics may fill out the Medicaid Provider Application which may be downloaded from the
TB forms page.
Updated 9/8/2017
The Standing Delegation Orders and Standing Medical Orders
Standing Delegation Orders and Standing Medical Orders for Tuberculosis Prevention and Control for FY 2019 are now available.
The Standing Delegation Orders (SDOs) and Standing Medical Orders (SMOs) are written instructions, orders and procedures prepared by the Department of State Health Services Tuberculosis and Refugee Health Services Branch to promote consistent evaluation and treatment practices for persons with suspected or confirmed TB.
The purpose of this document is to provide authority for specific acts of tuberculosis (TB) clinical services under authority of Rule Title 22, Texas Administrative Code §193.2, Standing Delegation Orders.
The intended audience for the SDOs and SMOs includes physicians, registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, non-licensed staff working in DSHS Health Service Regions. These orders are being shared with local health department TB programs as a resource document only.
The revised Standing Delegation Orders and Standing Medical Orders for Tuberculosis Prevention and Control are effective September 1, 2019.
Posted 9/2/2016
Cohort Review Implementation
In March 2013, the Tuberculosis Services Branch implemented the cohort review system in Texas. A cohort review is a systematic and retrospective review of the management of TB cases and contacts. It is an effective management tool that identifies trends impacting outcomes and provides the impetus for developing systems that enhance program performance.
It is the policy of the Tuberculosis Services Branch that in order to promote optimal case management and contact investigation practices statewide, DSHS health service regions and contracted local health department TB programs will hold quarterly cohort reviews. DSHS health service regional TB programs will work with low morbidity public health jurisdictions to implement the cohort review process. The Health Service Regions' Tuberculosis
Cohort Review Infrastructure form (PDF : 67 kB) provides the reporting framework for the cohort reviews.
Please refer to the
Cohort Review Policy (PDF : 45 kB) for further information.
The followings tools are available to conduct the cohort review and report findings to DSHS Tuberculosis Program Services Branch:
For help completing the summary form, download
An Overview of the Cohort Review Summary Form (PDF : 141 kB).
Updated 11/10/2015
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