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Important Update Actualización importante:

Good news! All CHIP, STAR, and STAR Kids Member Handbooks are now available online. Quick, easy access to your benefits and coverage information - any time!

¡Buenas noticias! Todos los manuales para miembros de CHIP, STAR y STAR Kids ya están disponibles en línea. Obtén acceso rápido y sencillo a la información sobre tus beneficios y cobertura, ¡en cualquier momento!

Medicaid Preferred Drug List and Formulary Changes Cambios en el formulario y la lista de medicamentos preferidos de Medicaid

The Vendor Drug Program (VDP) made changes to the Texas Medicaid drug formulary effective July 24, 2026. To learn more about formulary changes impacted, please click here for more information.

El programa de medicamentos de proveedores de Texas (VDP) ha realizado cambios recientes en el formulario de medicamentos de Medicaid de Texas. Esto entrará en vigencia el 24 de julio de 2026. Para obtener más información sobre los cambios en el formulario afectados, visite el siguiente enlace para obtener más información.

Benefit and Prior Authorization Information for Rethymic

Date: August 3, 2026

Attention: All Providers

Effective date: July 1, 2026

Call to action: Texas Children’s Health Plan (TCHP) would like to inform providers that effective for dates of service on or after July 1, 2026, allogeneic processed thymus tissue-agdc (Rethymic) is a benefit of Texas Medicaid when it is submitted on a claim with procedure code J3590. Prior authorization will be required beginning September 1, 2026.

Allogeneic processed thymus tissue-agdc (Rethymic) is indicated for immune reconstruction in pediatric patients with congenital athymia.

Allogeneic processed thymus-agdc (Rethymic) is limited to one surgical procedure per lifetime.

Prior Authorization Requirements

Providers must submit prior authorization requests for allogeneic processed thymus tissue-agdc (Rethymic) on a Special Medical Prior Authorization (SMPA) Request Form.

The Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership (TMHP) may approve prior authorization for allogeneic processed thymus tissue-agdc (Rethymic) for patients who meet the following requirements:

  • The patient is 18 years of age or younger.
  • The patient has a diagnosis of congenital athymia that is confirmed by flow cytometry (diagnosis code D821).
  • Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) has been conclusively ruled out.
  • An anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibody test was conducted before the start of treatment. If the patient tests positive for anti-HLA antibodies, they must receive allogeneic processed thymus tissue-agdc (Rethymic) from a donor who does not express HLA alleles.
  • The prescriber must attest that the benefits and risks of treatment have been evaluated for patients with preexisting cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection or renal impairment.
  • The patient has not previously received thymus tissue transplantation.

Required Monitoring Parameters

After allogeneic processed thymus tissue-agdc (Rethymic) implantation, providers must monitor the patient for the following:

  • The risk of developing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)
  • The possibility of developing autoimmune or lymphoproliferative disorders, which is monitored through complete blood counts (CBC) with differential, liver enzymes, serum creatinine, urinalysis, and thyroid function
  • Renal impairment or failure
  • The occurrence of an infectious disease, as these may develop because allogeneic processed thymus tissue-agdc (Rethymic) is derived from human tissue

Next step for providers: Providers should share this information with their staff.

If you have any questions, please email Provider Relations at providerrelations@texaschildrens.org.

For access to all provider alerts: www.texaschildrenshealthplan.org/provideralerts