STEPS: 2026-Update

by | Feb 11, 2026

February 11th, 2026

System Remedies Implemented for STEPS & Guidance Issued for Users

 (HHSC) is aware that some users of the new State of Texas Electronic Provider System (STEPS) have experienced difficulty viewing all of their associated entities.

The two issues that were resolved successfully were related to:

1. Data for the Primary Entity Contacts (PECs) 

2. The inability to access the reporting tool to complete Executive Order 46 (EO 46) reporting that is required each quarter for Medicaid-enrolled hospitals.

The issues were identified to HHSC by external users. HHSC has also worked with providers to identify two additional circumstances that may be impacting a STEPS user’s ability to view their associated entity information. 

Below is the Guidance From HHSC:

General User Access 

  1. PECs were not correctly aligned with National Provider Identification (NPIs) as listed in the Provider Enrollment Management System (PEMS). The original data integration from PEMS was using the initial primary contact individual, rather than the most current primary contact individual. The system updates to cure the issue were implemented on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
  2. In instances where a provider has requested an updated primary contact email address in PEMS alongside other changes to PEMS that are still pending, the PEMS primary contact information is not updated until all matters on the same request are fully resolved. To effectuate an email address update in PEMS while other changes are pending, a request to update only the PEMS contact information must be submitted without any other simultaneous changes to the request. The system will then automatically update within 24 hours, and then STEPS will automatically update as well. For additional information on how to make this type of update, go to Step 5 of the STEPS User Guide (.pdf). This matter can be resolved by users and is not a system defect.
  3. When viewing PEMS information please ensure that the Approved Only Data dropdown has been selected, as only approved data will be transmitted to STEPS.

Executive Order 46 Access 

  1. HHSC updated the system to provide training materials about EO-46 on Friday, February 6, 2027. After completing the training, users can now access the EO-46 Reporting tool and PECS can assign appropriate financial contacts and/or preparers.
  2. For EO 46 reporting, STEPS determines the PEC using the primary contact email associated with the practice location in PEMS. Users can view this in PEMS under “practice location information” on the left side panel –> Mailing/Contact Addresses. If PEC information is incorrect, follow guide in bullet number two above.

HHSC continues to work with providers who have submitted tickets to identify any system defects or user experience matters that may be delaying the ability of a provider to complete enrollments or reports. HHSC plans to issue further guidance to resolve issues that users may be experiencing by adding the Frequently Asked Questions to our website. HHSC expresses our sincere appreciation to the providers and enrollment preparers who submitted tickets to HHSC to identify the system issue. We are working through the tickets as quickly as possible, but with this being a system issue affecting a large population, our ticket responses are taking longer than our preferred two-day turnaround. We are working them in the order they were received.

HHSC is also evaluating options to extend enrollment deadlines to ensure that providers have adequate time to complete program enrollments. HHSC will issue further information about this by 5:00 p.m. on Feb. 13, 2026.  HHSC encourages all providers to begin the login and enrollment processes as soon as possible to ensure that any barriers to successful program enrollment are identified as early as possible.  HHSC is committed to helping all providers who wish to submit an enrollment application to do so.

Additional information about STEPS can be found on our website, including information about how to submit a ticket to request assistance or to report any user issues.

January 31st, 2026

Registration for State of Texas Electronic Provider System (STEPS) through IAMOnline

How to gain access to the State of Texas Electronic Provider System (STEPS) being granted by HHSC’s Provider Finance Department.

If you will be using the STEPS system, you must register for IAMOnline to access STEPS, which goes live on Feb. 2, 2026.

 IAMOnline is a State of Texas identity and access management platform that serves as the single-entry point to STEPS and other HHSC systems. IAMOnline will be the entry point every time a user logs in to STEPS.

Certain users were pre-identified by HHSC and pre-populated into the STEPS system via IAMOnline. Be sure if you were not pre-identified to follow these steps

How do I register for STEPS if I was not pre-identified for registration? 

To access STEPS, users who were not pre-identified must follow the instructions in the STEPS Registration via IAMOnline External User Guide, beginning on Step 3, page 1. Once you have completed the steps to request access, you will receive a registration email to activate your account. Ensure your firewall allows email from Okta “noreply@okta.com”, and check your spam/junk mail folders, as the link will only be available for seven calendar days. If the link expires, or you do not receive a link within three days of completing the registration steps, call the Enterprise Service Desk to request a new link (see details below under Support and Assistance).

STEPS IAMOnline External User Guide

  • The email registration link will expire within seven calendar days. If the link expires, you will need to call the Enterprise Service Desk to request a new email containing the registration link.

How do I check if I was pre-identified for STEPS registration?

  • This group includes STAIRS users, prior-directed payment program enrollment participants, and DFPS-contracted providers who submit DFPS cost reports. These users were included in a bulk upload to expedite access to STEPS. If you are part of this group, you will begin on Step 5 of the STEP Registration via IAMOnline External User Guide. To confirm whether you were part of the pre-identified user list, please refer to the STEPS Pre-Identified User List.

Support and Assistance

If you are unable to complete the process after following the guide, contact the Enterprise Service Desk for assistance.

IMPORTANT: Registered users must log in to IAMOnline every 90 days to maintain access; otherwise, the account will be disabled. If this occurs, call the HHSC Enterprise Service Desk to reactivate your account.

  • Enterprise Service Desk at (512) 438-4720 or (855) 435-7181 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., CST, Monday-Friday.
  • Select the Consolidated Helpdesk, Option 1; 
  • When prompted for an employee number, select “*” if you do not have an employee number; and
  • Remain on the line while the automated prompts continue.
  • After the prompts conclude, your call will be routed to a live help desk agent, and you will be asked to provide your name and email where the registration link was submitted.
  • Reference that you are calling about gaining access to IAMOnline and STEPS, and explain the issue you are experiencing.
  • If you did not receive the email, check your spam and junk folders first.
  • If you think your organization has blocked the email, ensure you have marked the sender (noreply@okta.com) as safe prior to calling the help desk to request a new email be sent.

Resources  

Visit the STEPS Webpage for up-to-date information regarding the system transition.

The STEPS Registration IAMOnline External User Guide contains answers to frequently asked registration questions. Please review this guide before reaching out to costinformationpfd@hhs.texas.gov for support.

January 22nd, 2026

HHSC does address questions related to the STAIRS and STEPS on the STEPS Transition webpage, https://pfd.hhs.texas.gov/transition-state-texas-electronic-provider-system.

 It does include information related to the end of STAIRS; however, the team will be asked to evaluate the currently published information to see if any clarifying updates would be helpful based on questions and concerns already received from providers and provider associations.  They typically update the documents at the beginning of each month and send out a GovDelivery notice once updates are published.

They will also evaluate notices for the SFY26 reports collected in 2027 once STEPS launches and they have released the SFY25 reports.

HHSC Announces New STEPS Launch Date and New Opening Dates for Directed Payment Program Enrollments and Cost Report Collections

HHSC is transitioning to a new web-based software application to collect information from providers for Medicaid and non-Medicaid cost reports, Supplemental and Directed Payment Program (DPP) enrollments, and legislatively directed reports. The new system, the State of Texas Electronic Provider System (STEPS), will update and simplify the cost reporting and directed payment program enrollment processes.

The planned launch date for STEPS has been moved from January 23, 2026 to February 2, 2026. HHSC is also implementing a phased release plan for STEPS.

The phased release plan will enable STEPS users to gain access to the system and complete required cost report training before HHSC begins collecting the majority of the cost reports.

A general plan for the opening of DPP enrollments, reports, and cost reports is outlined below. Please refer to the STEPS Transition Phased Release Plan (.pdf) for more detailed information, including opening and closing dates for each enrollment and report.

February 2026

HHSC will open the following DPP enrollments, reports, and training modules in February 2026.

  • Comprehensive Hospital Increase Reimbursement Program (CHIRP) Enrollment
  • Directed Payment Program for Behavioral Health Services (DPP BHS) Enrollment
  • Executive Order GA-46 Report
  • Medicaid Administrative Claiming (MAC) Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Report – JS25
  • Rural Access to Primary and Preventive Services (RAPPS) Enrollment
  • Texas Incentives for Physicians and Professional Services (TIPPS) Enrollment
  • Quality Incentive Payment Program (QIPP) Enrollment
  • Required Cost Report Training Modules

March 2026

HHSC will open the following cost reports in March 2026.

  • 24-Hour Residential Child Care (24RCC) Cost Report
  • Single Source Continuum Contractors (SSCC) Cost Report
  • Mental Health, Early Childhood Intervention, and Individuals with Developmental Disabilities (MEI) Cost Report
  • Ambulance Services Supplemental Payment Program (UC Ambulance) Cost Report
  • CPC: Community Living Assistance and Support Services – Case Management Agency (CLASS-CMA); Community Living Assistance and Support Services – Direct Service Agency (CLASS-DSA); Primary Home Care (PHC) Cost Report
  • Day Activity Health Services (DAHS) Cost Report
  • State Supported Living Center (SSLC) Cost Report

March/April 2026

HHSC will open the following cost reports no later than April 2026.

  • Medicaid Administrative Claiming (MAC) – Mental Health/ Individuals with Intellectual Developmental Disability (MHIDD), Independent School District (ISD), Local Health District (LHD) – OD25
  • School and Health and Related Services (SHARS) Cost Report

Opening in Fall of 2026

  • Public Health Provider – Charity Care Program (PHP-CCP) Cost Report
  • Disproportionate Share Hospitals and Uncompensated Care (DSH/UC) Application
  • Hospital Augmented Reimbursement Program (HARP) enrollment

STEPS Resources and Updates

The STEPS webpage is the central location for major announcements and resources. Updates regarding STEPS are posted regularly.

Questions?

HHSC encourages providers to submit additional questions not answered in the FAQ and transition guides through the online questions and feedback portal. These questions will not receive a direct response, but they will help guide future updates.

December 7th, 2025

STEPS Replacing STAIRS -December Update

Starting in early 2026, HHSC will transition to a new web-based software application to collect information from providers for Medicaid and non-Medicaid cost reports, Supplemental and Directed Payment Program enrollments, and legislatively directed reports. The new system, the State of Texas Electronic Provider System (STEPS), will update and simplify the reporting and directed payment program enrollment processes. The current system, the State of Texas Automated Information Reporting System (STAIRS), will remain in use until the transition is complete.

STEPS Provider Webinar

The HHSC Provider Finance Department (PFD) will host a webinar about the STEPS system on Dec. 10, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. CST.

Register for the webinar here through GoToWebinar.

Webinar ID 641-739-747

STEPS Resources

  1. STEPS Webpage

The STEPS webpage is the central location for major announcements and resources. Updates regarding STEPS will be posted regularly before the system goes live.

  1. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The STEPS webpage includes an FAQ document to address your questions. This document is updated in response to questions received through the online portal referenced below.

  1. STEPS Transition Guides – Updated Dec. 1

The STEPS webpage includes transition guides that provide more details regarding access to the new STEPS system, training, and other related topics. New guides will be added as information is available.

  1. PFD Cost Report Webpages

The PFD Cost Report Information and PFD Cost Report Training webpages have been updated with new information about STEPS, cost report cycles, and cost report training requirements.

Questions?

HHSC encourages providers to submit additional questions not answered in the FAQ and transition guides through the online questions and feedback portal. These questions will not receive a direct response, but they will help guide future updates.

October 6th, 2025

October Update

HHSC will switch to a new web-based software application that will be used to collect information from providers for Medicaid and non-Medicaid cost reports, Supplemental and Directed Payment Program enrollments, and legislatively directed reports, starting in early 2026. The new system, State of Texas Electronic Provider System (STEPS), will update and simplify the reporting and directed payment program enrollment processes. The current system, the State of Texas Automated Information Reporting System (STAIRS), will remain in use until the transition is complete.

Resources

  1. STEPS Webpage
  • The STEPS webpage will serve as a central location for major announcements and resources.
  • Updates regarding STEPS will be posted regularly before the system goes live.
  1. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
  • The STEPS webpage includes an FAQ document to address your anticipated questions. This document has been updated in response to questions received through the online portal referenced below.

Questions

HHSC encourages providers to submit additional questions not answered in the FAQ through the online questions and feedback portal. These questions will not receive a direct response but will help guide updates to the FAQ.