NEWS RELEASE
Texas
Health and Human Services Commission
Charles
Smith
Executive Commissioner
Executive Commissioner
Date: Aug. 3, 2016
Contact: Bryan Black,
512-424-6951
Medicaid Will Pay for Mosquito
Repellent to Fight Zika
AUSTIN – Texas Medicaid
will cover the cost of mosquito repellent for women who are between the ages of
10 and 45 or pregnant, HHS Executive Commissioner Charles Smith announced
today.
The decision is in response to the
possibility of local transmission of the Zika virus, which is spread primarily
by mosquito bite. Zika can cause severe birth defects in unborn children whose
mothers are infected while pregnant.
"The best way to protect yourself from
Zika is by avoiding mosquito bites," Smith said. "There is currently
no vaccine to prevent the disease or drug to treat it, making it essential that
people use mosquito repellent to protect women and unborn babies."
To be covered, a doctor must prescribe the
repellent and the client must pick it up at a pharmacy. Clients can present
their Medicaid prescription card just like they would with any prescription.
Women in the following programs are covered:
- Medicaid
- CHIP
- CHIP-Perinate
- Healthy
Texas Women
- Family
Planning
Eligible women can get up to two cans per month
through Oct. 31. Patients can call doctors to ask for a prescription, and the
doctors may call it in to a pharmacy. Office visits should only be required if
there is a medical necessity. All the protocols and procedures are expected to
be in place to allow clients to begin picking up the repellent on Aug. 9.
HHSC has previously determined the following
Zika-related items are covered under current Texas Medicaid benefits:
- Family
planning services
- Contraceptives
- Diagnostic
testing
- Targeted
case management
- Physical
therapy
- Long
term services and support
- Acetometophin
and oral electrolytes for Zika symptoms
- Potential
coverage for additional ultrasounds for pregnant women
For more information about the Zika virus, visit TexasZika.org.
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