Provider Alert! Changes for Client Access to Mosquito Repellent Benefit Begin June 1

Date: March 10, 2022

Attention: Providers

Effective Date: June 1, 2022

Providers should monitor the Texas Children’s Health Plan (TCHP) Provider Portal regularly for alerts and updates associated to the COVID-19 event.  TCHP reserves the right to update and/or change this information without prior notice due to the evolving nature of the COVID-19 event.

Call to action: Beginning May 31, 2022, HHSC will stop using the Texas Medicaid Standing Order for Mosquito Repellent

How this impacts providers: Pharmacies must obtain a prescription from a Medicaid-enrolled prescribing provider to dispense mosquito repellent beginning June 1, 2022, for Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Healthy Texas Women (HTW). HHSC has extended the effective date of the current standing order until May 31, 2022, to ensure providers have adequate notice regarding upcoming changes to the mosquito repellent benefit.

Pharmacy staff may obtain a copy of the extended standing order by submitting a request via email to vdp-formulary@hhsc.state.tx.us.

Pharmacies or pharmacists not operating under the standing order will require a prescription from a valid healthcare provider before dispensing mosquito repellent to people enrolled in Medicaid.

Pharmacies may use the standing order if a new prescription or a refill is required until May 31, 2022. Afterward, the terms of the standing order will no longer be valid.

Next steps for providers: Prescribers should communicate this update with their staff as well

If you have any questions, please email Provider Network Management at: providerrelations@texaschildrens.org.
For access to all provider alerts, log into:
www.thecheckup.org or www.texaschildrenshealthplan.org/for-providers.