This foundation session is designed for new and returning county staff who work with the County Indigent Health Care Program. The training will walk through eligibility, documentation, client communication, application review, and the practical steps that keep local programs consistent and compliant.

Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of day-to-day program administration and the common questions that arise when helping applicants navigate county indigent health care services.

This peer-led session gives experienced administrators time to work through real-world operational issues, including difficult cases, provider relationships, audits, appeals, documentation practices, and program management questions.

Board members will facilitate discussion so counties can compare approaches, share practical tools, and identify issues that may need follow-up throughout the conference.

TIHCA Chair Jennifer Gutierrez will officially open the conference with a welcome address, reflections on the year’s achievements, and an introduction to the “From Surviving to Thriving” theme. This session sets the tone for collaboration, innovation, and shared learning across counties.

The opening general session will frame the role of county indigent health care programs in a changing service environment. The discussion will focus on practical partnerships, access gaps, provider relationships, and the local safety-net responsibilities counties carry for residents who have limited options for care.

This session will set the tone for the conference by connecting the Galveston setting, the conference theme, and the operational realities county staff manage every day.

Attendees will also be encouraged to visit the State CIHCP Office table during the conference for staff introductions, follow-up questions, and program resources.

Prescription costs remain a barrier for many uninsured Texans, but the Texas Cares Rx program is working to expand access to no-cost and low-cost medications. Established by House Bill 18 in the 87th Legislature, Texas Cares Rx builds a statewide network of trained Navigators who help residents apply to patient assistance programs. Through community partnerships and an Rx clearinghouse system, the program reduces paperwork, simplifies applications, and helps connect eligible Texans to needed medications. This session will explain how Texas Cares Rx is improving access to prescriptions, how counties can connect with Navigators, and what tools are available to support residents in need.

More information on this session will be shared closer to the conference.

More information on this session will be shared closer to the conference.

More information on this session will be shared closer to the conference.

Join the TIHCA Board and fellow members for lunch, updates on association activities, board elections, and a review of financials. This session offers a chance to engage with leadership, ask questions, and help shape the direction of TIHCA’s work for the coming year.

County indigent health care programs often serve clients whose needs overlap with behavioral health, crisis services, specialty care, and community referrals. This session will focus on how county staff can work more effectively with local mental health authorities and improve handoffs for clients who need behavioral health support.

The discussion will cover referral expectations, communication with LMHA partners, waitlists, documentation, and what information helps move a client from concern to connection.

This session will show how 2-1-1 can support county staff when residents need help beyond the county indigent health care program. The discussion will focus on warm referrals, resource navigation, and connecting clients to food, transportation, utilities, housing, health, public benefits, and other community supports.

Attendees will leave with practical ideas for using 2-1-1 as a front-line referral tool and for helping clients take the next step after they leave the county office.

Housing instability, behavioral health needs, and lack of access to care often overlap for the same vulnerable residents. This session will explore how Coordinated Entry, supportive housing, and local behavioral health partnerships can help connect individuals to services more effectively and reduce pressure on county systems.

This brief end-of-day exchange will give members time to compare what they heard, raise unresolved questions, and identify ideas they want to explore further on Friday.

The discussion will also help TIHCA capture future training needs related to outreach, referrals, behavioral health coordination, transportation, provider access, and program administration.

The discussion will also help TIHCA capture future training needs related to outreach, referrals, behavioral health coordination, transportation, provider access, and program administration.

This session will focus on patient-centered communication strategies that make the health care experience easier, safer, and more understandable for patients, partners, providers, and county staff. 

More information on this session will be shared closer to the conference.

This operations session will address pauper burial responsibilities, documentation, vendor relationships, family communication, cost pressures, and difficult scenarios that arise when counties are asked to assist with burial or cremation.

Attendees will be encouraged to compare policies, identify practical safeguards, and discuss where consistency can reduce confusion during sensitive and time-pressured situations.

An open floor discussion to reflect on this year’s themes, highlight promising practices, and set shared goals for 2027. Facilitated by TIHCA’s chair, this session invites attendees to weigh in on emerging needs, policy directions, and areas for collective focus in the coming year.