Healthy Texas Women Program to Require Prescription for Mosquito Repellents Beginning Feb. 18

Texas Health and Human Services covers mosquito repellents for the prevention of the Zika virus. Covered programs include:

• Medicaid (both traditional and managed care)
• Children's Health Insurance Program
• Children with Special Health Care Needs Services Program
• Healthy Texas Women Program

Beginning Feb. 18, people enrolled in the Healthy Texas Women Program will now require a prescription to receive mosquito repellents.

Texas HHS issued the Texas Medicaid Standing Order for Mosquito Repellent to be used for people enrolled in Medicaid, CHIP, and the Healthy Texas Women Program. This order serves as a prescription and allows pharmacists to dispense mosquito repellent under the terms of the order. Pharmacies are encouraged to use this order instead of contacting the person’s healthcare providers for individual prescriptions for mosquito repellent.

To request a copy of the standing order, or for other questions about this benefit, email vdp-formulary@hhsc.state.tx.us.

More information about the mosquito repellent benefit is available in on the Vendor Drug Program website, including prescription template and claim submission guidelines. The Pharmacy Provider Procedure Manual includes the list of covered mosquito repellents.