Combating Zika: Medicaid to Cover Cost of Mosquito Repellent

Medicaid started covering the cost of bug spray in Virginia Monday for pregnant women as well as for men and women of child-bearing age to help combat the Zika virus, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

The Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services announced this week they will cover insect repellent under the pharmacy benefit, with a prescription. A doctor's office visit is not required, the health department said.

The decision was made "in response to the possibility of local transmission of the Zika virus, spread primarily by insect bite," the health department said.

The coverage will apply to members enrolled in Medicaid Fee-for-Service, FAMIS, FAMIS
MOMS and the Governor’s Access Plan (GAP), as well as those members enrolled in all the
Medicaid/FAMIS Managed Care Plans.

Coverage will be limited to members who are currently pregnant or are of childbearing years (women and men age 14-44) who are trying to conceive.

As of last Thursday, the Virginia Department of Health has reported 63 cases of the Zika virus disease in Virginia residents to the CDC including 31 cases in the Northern Virginia suburbs, which includes Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax County, Loudoun County and Prince William County.

Here's the breakdown where the Zika cases have been reported in Virginia:

• Northwest region: 7
• Northern region: 31
• Eastern region: 6
• Central region: 11
• Southwest region: 8

All Virginia cases are associated with travel to a Zika-affected area. CDC has issued a travel alert (Level 2-Practice Enhanced Precautions) for people traveling to regions and certain countries where Zika virus transmission is ongoing.

In Florida there have been 37 locally transmitted cases of Zika reported.

Zika is a mosquito-borne illness that presents with a fever, joint pain and rash. The illness typically goes away within a week, but some cases may require hospitalization. Zika may also be spread through sexual contact, health officials say.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed that the Zika virus is responsible for causing severe defects in unborn children, including microcephaly, which leaves babies with abnormally small heads and often with brains that do not develop properly.

The CDC recommends women who are pregnant or are considering becoming pregnant postpone travel to areas where there is widespread Zika infection.

Sherri Lonon, Patch staff, contributed to this story.

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