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Semiannual Medicaid Preferred Drug List Update Scheduled for July 24, 2026

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The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will publish updates to the semiannual Medicaid Preferred Drug List (PDL) and PDL Criteria Guide (PDF) on July 24, 2026. HHSC will make the following updates based on recommendations from the January and April 2026 Texas Drug Utilization Review (DUR) Board meetings:

  • New PDL Class
    • Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Agents
  • Renamed PDL Classes
    • "Calcium Channel Blockers (Oral)" will become "Calcium Channel Blockers"
    • "Pah Agents (Oral, Inhalation)" will become "Pah Agents"
    • "Skeletal Muscle Relaxants" will become "Skeletal Muscle Relaxants And Related Agents"
    • "Proton Pump Inhibitors" will become "Stomach Acid Reducers And Related"

Refer to the quarterly PDL Updates for notable changes from each DUR Board meeting. For a complete list of changes, refer to the January 2026 PDL decisions and the April 2026 PDL recommendations on the DUR Board Documents page.

Drug Designations

Drugs are designated on the Texas Medicaid formulary as preferred, non-preferred, or neither. The PDL includes only drugs identified as either preferred or non-preferred. This designation affects prior authorization requirements in the following ways:

  • Drugs not on the preferred list and drugs identified on the list as "preferred" are available without prior authorization.
  • Drugs on the list identified as "non-preferred" will require prior authorization.
  • Some preferred and non-preferred drugs may require clinical prior authorization.

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