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Expanded Drug List and New Prior Authorizations for HTW Effective July 1, 2026

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Starting July 1, 2026, Texas Medicaid will expand the list of drugs available to clients in the Healthy Texas Women (HTW) program.

Under these changes, HTW will cover all Medicaid-eligible drugs in the health care categories already covered by HTW. This includes the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Vendor Drug Program (VDP) drug formulary and the clinician-administered drug benefit.

The same drug coverage rules that are used in Medicaid will now apply to HTW. This includes:

  • The use of the preferred drug list (PDL)
  • Clinical prior authorizations for drugs
  • Prior authorizations to certain medical services covered by HTW

Reason for Changes

The changes are a result of HHSC's ongoing efforts to transition HTW from a state-funded program to a Medicaid-funded program. As part of this transition, HHSC must meet federal Medicaid rules that require consistent coverage across all Medicaid programs.

These changes ensure that clients and providers have the same coverage rules and requirements across Medicaid. 

HTW and HTW Plus

The HTW program is a limited-benefit package that provides health and family planning services to eligible, low-income women.

HTW Plus is an enhanced postpartum services package for HTW-enrolled women who have been pregnant within the last 12 months of enrollment. HTW Plus services treat major health conditions that contribute to maternal morbidity and mortality, including treatment for postpartum depression, cardiovascular and coronary conditions, and substance use disorders such as drug and alcohol misuse.

Resource

To learn more about the HTW program, visit the HTW website and view the HTW Enrollment page on tmhp.com.

Contact

Email vdp-policy@hhs.texas.gov with comments or any questions.