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SFY 2027 Enrollment Now Open for CHIRP, DPP BHS, RAPPS, and TIPPS

State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2027 enrollment for participation in the following directed payment programs (DPPs) opened yesterday, Feb. 2, 2026, at 8 a.m. Central Standard Time (CST) and will close on Feb. 23, 2026, at 5 p.m. CST.

1. Comprehensive Hospital Increase Reimbursement Program (CHIRP).
2. Directed Payment Program for Behavioral Health Services (DPP BHS).
3. Rural Access to Primary and Preventive Services Program (RAPPS).
4. Texas Incentives for Physicians and Professional Services (TIPPS).

No Intergovernmental Transfers (IGT) are requested at this time.

DPP enrollments are available in the new system, State of Texas Electronic Provider System (STEPS), which is accessible through the IAMOnline portal. Providers will need to request access to STEPS through IAMOnline. For more information on STEPS and access, visit the STEPS resource webpage.

A list of prior applicants and the PEMS contact is on this STEPS resource webpage under “Medicaid Directed Payment Programs (DPPs) with Primary Enrollment and Management System (PEMS) Primary Contacts List”. For the following programs: CHIRP, RAPPS, TIPPS, and DPP BHS – List of Enrollment and PEMS contacts is here.

• CHIRP Application

• 1 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Section 353.1306.
• CHIRP Application Fee: HHSC will be collecting an application fee of $17,500 for SFY 2027 for CHIRP to cover the cost of administering the program. This application fee will apply to all non-public hospitals that choose to participate in the program. As outlined in 1 TAC Section 353.1301(l), “To the extent authorized under state and federal law, HHSC will collect the state's cost of administering a program authorized under this subchapter from participants in the program generating the costs.”
• The application fee from participating non-public hospitals is due at the time of the submission of the enrollment application. The deadline to submit the application fee is Feb. 23, 2026. If no payment is received by the deadline, your hospital’s application will be removed, and you will not be eligible to participate in CHIRP.

• Payment must be made in the manner determined by HHSC and in compliance with payment instructions that are posted on the HHSC Provider Finance Department website.
• DPP BHS Application
• 1 TAC Section 353.1320
• RAPPS Application
• 1 TAC Section 353.1315
• TIPPS Application
• 1 TAC Section 353.1309

Enrollment is open, and applications will be accepted for 21 calendar days.

Direct all questions about access to the STEPS system and any STEPS related enrollment questions to PFD Cost Information.

For program-related questions, contact us at the appropriate email address provided below:

• CHIRP: PFD_hospitals@hhs.texas.gov
• DPP BHS: PFD_DPPBHS@hhs.texas.gov
• RAPPS: PFD_hospitals@hhs.texas.gov
• TIPPS: PFD_TIPPS@hhs.texas.gov