Open enrollment is active. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is accepting applications under HHS0011235 for Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Waiver Comprehensive Waiver Providers.
Controlling deadline: August 31, 2027 at 5:00 PM CDT. HHSC’s current resource page lists the solicitation as revised August 20, 2026 through Addendum 4. The older base OE PDF still displays an August 31, 2026 closing date, but that same OE states that its schedule may be changed by later addenda. Applicants should therefore rely on the current HHS open-enrollment page, Addendum 4, and any later posted addenda rather than the embedded date in the base PDF.
Program purpose: the Medicaid 1915(c) YES Waiver provides short-term, comprehensive home- and community-based mental-health services to youth ages 3 through 18 who are at risk of institutionalization or out-of-home placement because of severe emotional disturbance. The program is intended to reduce out-of-home placement and inpatient psychiatric treatment while expanding coordinated community-based supports.
Minimum applicant qualifications: applicants must have at least two years of relevant experience performing the required or similar services; maintain a qualifying physical business address in Texas at application that is not the applicant’s primary residence; be an appropriate legal entity authorized to do business in Texas; and ensure personnel and subcontractors hold all applicable Texas licenses or certifications in good standing. HHSC requires providers to have agency policies and procedures aligned with the YES Waiver Policy Manual before applying.
Provider and payment structure: a Comprehensive Waiver Provider is responsible for providing or arranging the full YES Waiver service array, directly or through a managed subcontractor network. Before receiving referrals, the provider must complete the required Medicaid/YES Waiver enrollment. Payment is fee-for-service at established HHSC rates by authorized service type; HHSC does not guarantee volume, usage, referrals, or compensation.
Submission control: applications must be submitted only by email to BHMPContracts@hhs.texas.gov. HHSC requires the complete application in searchable PDF format; handwritten or scanned submissions may be rejected. Application signatures must be dated no more than two weeks before submission. The package must follow Section 13 and Appendix A sequencing and include all required exhibits, attachments, and applicable addenda. A missing signed Exhibit A — HHS Solicitation Affirmations is expressly disqualifying.
Email-delivery control: HHSC recommends keeping each attachment to approximately 10 MB. If multiple emails are needed, number them in sequence in the subject line. Files must not be encrypted so that HHSC cannot open them, and the complete application must be received at the proper HHSC destination server before the controlling enrollment deadline. Applicants should preserve sent-message timestamps and delivery evidence.
Atlas Opportunity Score: 92/100. This remains a high-value statewide pediatric behavioral-health provider lane for organizations able to deliver and coordinate intensive community-based services for high-need children and adolescents. The most important current applicant risk is source-version control: the live HHS resource page and Addendum 4 supersede the older closing date printed in the base OE PDF.
N9+ Direct Vendor Fit: 35/100. HHS0011235 is a provider enrollment and service-delivery procurement, not a standalone technology purchase. Any N9+ or other technology role must be tied to an authorized participant service, therapeutic objective, documented medical necessity, and applicable HHSC/TMHP billing requirements; Atlas should not represent device costs as automatically reimbursable.
Official source: Texas HHS Open Enrollment HHS0011235.