Texas Home Health Survey Prep Checklist
Your survey could come any day. This is exactly what Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) surveyors pull from your files — and how to walk in already audit-ready. Free, no signup required.
75 hrs
Initial Training
12 hrs
Annual Training
Every 60 days
Supervision
Required
Fingerprints
What Surveyors Pull From Every Employee File
Have these ready, current, and signed for every staff member before your survey:
- Signed job description matching the role and assigned duties
- Completed application and verified employment history / references
- I-9 employment eligibility verification with supporting documents
- W-4 and signed payroll / direct-deposit authorization
- Government-issued photo ID and Social Security / ITIN record
- Current professional license or certification copy (RN, LPN, CNA, HHA, etc.)
- Signed HIPAA, employee handbook, and policy acknowledgments
- Documented orientation and annual in-service / competency evaluation
See the full breakdown in our guide: What Surveyors Check in Personnel Files.
Texas Background & Exclusion Screening
Required checks for every staff member (26 TAC § 558.256):
- Texas DPS Criminal Background CheckRequired
- FBI National Criminal CheckRequired
- Employee Misconduct Registry (EMR)Required
- Texas Nurse Aide RegistryRequired
- OIG Exclusion ListRequired
Don't forget monthly OIG/SAM screening. Medicare/Medicaid agencies must re-check all staff against the federal exclusion lists every month — surveyors ask for the dated screening logs.
Fingerprinting required: DPS Fingerprint.
Abuse registry: Check the Texas Employee Misconduct Registry for all staff.
Training, Competency & Supervision Records
- 75 hours of documented initial training per staff member (26 TAC § 558.259).
- 12 hours of annual continuing education, with dated completion records.
- Supervisory visit notes documented every 60 days (26 TAC § 558.261).
- Signed competency evaluations for each aide/attendant role.
Texas-Specific Requirements
- HHSC license required for home and community support services
- Fingerprint-based criminal history check required
Texas Survey Prep FAQ
What do surveyors check in Texas home health personnel files?
Surveyors review each employee file for identifying information, a signed job description, verified employment history, license and certification copies, background-check and exclusion-screening results, training and competency documentation, and signed policy acknowledgments. Missing or expired items are among the most common citations.
How often do I need to re-screen staff against the OIG exclusion list in Texas?
Medicare/Medicaid-participating agencies should screen all staff against the OIG LEIE and SAM.gov exclusion lists monthly, per OIG Special Advisory Bulletin guidance. Texas also requires Texas DPS Criminal Background Check, FBI National Criminal Check, Employee Misconduct Registry (EMR), Texas Nurse Aide Registry, OIG Exclusion List.
How many training hours does Texas require?
Texas requires 75 initial training hours and 12 annual continuing-education hours (26 TAC § 558.259). Supervisory visits are required every 60 days.
Find Your Texas Survey Gaps in 15 Minutes
Free assessment covering every HHSC requirement on this checklist. No payment required.
Take Your Free Texas Compliance Snapshot