Texas VDP System Changes For Drug Manufacturers Begins March 2024

Published on

On Oct. 13, 2023, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) announced a contract award to Gainwell Technologies (Gainwell) to be the pharmacy benefits administrator for the Texas Vendor Drug Program (VDP).

Beginning Saturday, March 30, 2024, Gainwell will be responsible for the following functions:

  • Fee-for-service Medicaid and other state program pharmacy claims processing.
  • Administration of Medicaid federal, supplemental, and value-based rebate program.
    • Gainwell’s subcontractor, Change Healthcare, will administer supplemental and value-based rebate negotiations (through their Electronic Rebate Offer Management System (eROMS) system) along with the Preferred Drug List (PDL) management.
  • Fee-for-service Medicaid and other state program pharmacy prior authorization administration.
  • Formulary management, including the electronic Certificate of Information (eCOI) for VDP formulary additions.
  • Prospective and retrospective drug utilization review activities.
  • Pharmacy, prior authorization, and technical call centers.

New eCOI Portal

The eCOI portal allows drug manufacturers to send the Certificate of Information (COI) for VDP to consider drugs for coverage on the Texas Formulary. It also maintains the profile information to contact you with status updates on your application and any pertinent information needed to submit your application.

Gainwell has migrated your existing user ID from the existing Conduent eCOI portal to the new Gainwell eCOI portal. After signing into the new portal for the first time, it will prompt you to reset your password. New users will need to register with the portal.

Supplemental Rebate Requests for Offers

Gainwell and Change Healthcare will send the schedule and instructions in a separate notice.

Technical Support

Gainwell will provide technical support through the Texas Medicaid Pharmacy and Technical Call Center on the following days (all times central):

  • Saturday, March 30, 2024:
    • 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Sunday, March 31, 2024:
    • 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Regular operation hours begin Monday, April 1, 2024:
    • Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Resources

The System Transition Resources page will provide notices and information about this change. You can also register with the HHSC email notification service to review emails from VDP about the change. If you experience issues with your eCOI account, contact vdp-formulary@hhsc.state.tx.us to resolve them.

Beginning March 30, 2024, for portal technical support, contact the Texas Medicaid Pharmacy and Technical Call Center at 800-435-4165, (select option 3).