Provider Letter 2026-13 For ICF Providers: Workplace Violence Program-Updates

by | Sep 29, 2026

September 29th, 2026

Upcoming Webinars on Workplace Violence Prevention Program and Committee:  Handouts attached, but these may change based on questions HHSC received at the first training.
Registration for HHSC’s Webinar on Senate Bill 463, Workplace Prevention Requirements for ICFs/IID
Monday, Oct. 5, 2–3 p.m.
Register for the webinar.
Friday, Oct. 16, 10–11 a.m.
Register for the webinar.

 

September 28th, 2026

Proposed Rules and Opportunity to Submit Comments:   The proposed rules, were posted in the September 25, 2026 Texas Register for the required 31-day public comment period and are attached for your review or may be viewed at:
Revised PL 2026-13
HHSC agreed to implement a “hold harmless” period until the statutorily imposed challenges can be resolved during the 90th Texas Legislative Session, but only for the requirement related to having a licensed physician on the Workplace Violence Committee from 9/1/2026 until 8/31/2027.  As noted in revised PL 2026-13,  “the hold harmless period does not suspend or modify any other requirements related to the Workplace Violence Prevention Program. Licensed ICF/IIDs and SSLCs will need to comply with all other requirements of the statute as of 09/01/2026.
The committee must also include the ICF/IID’s ‘”security officer,  if any and if practicable.”  Both the revised Provider Letter and the proposed rules allow an ICF/IID provider to either create a workplace violence prevention committee or assign an existing committee within the facility to develop a plan for preventing workplace violence. 
As of 9/1/2026, ICF providers must be in compliance with all other requirements.

August 10th, 2026

HHSC Bulletin:  LTCR has published revised Provider Letter 2026-13, Implementation of Workplace Violence Prevention for Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF). 
The letter has been updated to include information on a hold-harmless period for the requirement to include a physician on the Workplace Violence Committee.
The hold-harmless period is from September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027.

This document is posted on the HHSC ICF Provider Portal website.

For questions contact LTCRPolicy@hhs.texas.gov.

July 25th, 2026

LTCR has published PL 2026-13, Implementation of Workplace Violence Program for Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF/IID) providers.

This provider letter provides guidance for licensed ICF/IIDs and SSLCs required to implement a workplace violence prevention program introduced by SB 463 from the 89th Legislature, Regular Session (2025). SB 463 became effective September 1, 2025, and the provider letter explains the requirements and informs providers of key deadlines.

This document is posted on the ICF Provider Portal HHSC website.

The facility must establish a workplace violence prevention committee, or assign an existing committee, who will be responsible for developing a plan for preventing workplace violence with representation that includes:

• One registered nurse (RN) who provides direct care to residents of the facility;

• One physician licensed to practice medicine in this state who provides direct care to residents of the facility; and,

• When available, security personnel.

Facilities that operate multiple ICFs may use a single committee, provided a separate prevention plan is maintained for each facility.

State Statute H&SC 331.003(3) requires facilities to adopt, implement, and enforce a written workplace violence prevention policy to protect health care providers and employees from violent behavior and threats of violent behavior occurring in the facility. The policy must require the facility to:

• provide significant consideration of the violence prevention plan recommended by the facility’s committee for the workplace violence prevention plan;

• evaluate any existing workplace violence prevention plan;

• encourage health care professionals and facility employees to share confidential information about workplace violence with the committee;

• include a process that protects health care professionals and facility employees from retaliation for providing information to the committee; and

• ensure compliance with HHSC rules about workplace violence.

The facility must adopt, implement, and enforce a written workplace violence prevention plan to protect health care providers and employees from violent behavior and threats of violent behavior occurring in the facility by a resident and/or staff.

And the facility must respond to these workplace violence incidents by offering immediate services to each health care professional or employee directly involved in or affected by the incident, to including any necessary acute medical care

For questions contact LTCRPolicy@hhs.texas.gov.