Medical Policy Updates

Notification of Policy Revisions Effective June 16, 2021 (Posted April 16, 2021)

Medical Policy Revision
Alemtuzumab (Lemtrada®) Added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Alpha 1-Antitrypsin Inhibitor Therapy Added requirement of non-smoker to continuation section; added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Antisense Oligonucleotide Therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Updated medical policy formatting. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Bezlotoxumab (Zinplava™) Added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Bimatoprost Intracameral Implant (Durysta™) Added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Brexanolone (Zulresso™) Added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Burosumab-twza (Crysvita®) Added new indication for fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23)-related hypophosphatemia in tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) associated with phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors that cannot be curatively resected or localized; added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Buprenorphine Extended-Release (Sublocade®) Added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Canakinumab (Ilaris) Added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
CAR-T Therapy Removed specific weight dosing within Yescarta criteria based on updated FDA label; added requirement of documentation of planned dose; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Crizanlizumab-tmca (Adakveo®) Added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Denosumab (Prolia®, Xgeva®) Added trial and failure or contraindication/hypersensitivity to a bisphosphonate for patients with breast cancer or prostate cancer at high risk for fracture; added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Eculizumab (Soliris®) Added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Edaravone (Radicava®) Added maximum units; added clarification of continued clinical benefit for continuation section; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ERT) for Lysosomal Storage Disorders Added baseline assessment parameters and expansion of age to less than 5 years and ≥16 months of age to Elaprase criteria; added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Evinacumab-dgnb (Evkeeza™) Added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Fosdenopterin (Nulibry™) Added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Emapalumab-lzsg (Gamifant™) Added requirement for TB testing prior to therapy initiation; added requirement to continuation section for concurrent dexamethasone; added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Eptinezumab-jjmr (Vyepti™) Added maximum units and removed review of 300 mg strength in initial criteria; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Erythropoietin Stimulating Agents Added requirement of evaluation of patient’s transferrin saturation, serum ferritin, and hemoglobin; requirement of supplemental iron for low ferritin or transferrin; removal of Omontys; defined surgical candidate for reduce allogeneic transfusions as elective, noncardiac, nonvascular; added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Esketamine (Spravato®) Nasal Spray Added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Givosiran (Givlaari®) Added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Ibalizumab-uiyk (Trogarzo®) Added definition of clinically significant response in continuation section; added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Immunoglobulin Therapy Added selective IgG subclass deficiency and specific antibody deficiency (SAD) under primary immunodeficiencies for IVIg and SCIg; added age requirement for bacterial infection prevention in HIV-infected children; added requirements for FDA labeled or compendia accepted indication with specific evidence level rating, no FDA labeled contraindications, and maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Inebilizumab-cdon (Uplizna™) Added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Injectable Clostridial Collagenase for Fibroproliferative Disorders Added continuation criteria with no change to policy intent; added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Letermovir (Prevymis™) Added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Lumasiran (Oxlumo™) Added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Luspatercept-aamt (Reblozyl®) Added specialist requirement and no use as substitution for RBC transfusions to continuation criteria; maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Natalizumab (Tysabri®) CD: Addition of criteria for history of use of another biologic immunomodulator agent for the same indication; added requirements to be prescribed by or in consultation with a specialist; added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
New to Market Specialty Drug PPA Requirements Medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Nusinersen (Spinraza®) Added requirement for maximum units, dose, and dosing frequency; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Ocrelizumab (Ocrevus®) Added maximum units; medical policy formatting change with no change to policy intent. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Onasemnogene abeparvovec (Zolgensma®) Medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Patisiran (Onpattro®) Added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Pegloticase (Krystexxa®) Added requirements to continuation section of no concurrent use with an oral urate- lowering agent and no use for treatment of asymptomatic hyperuricemia; added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Pulmonary Hypertension, Drug Management Added additional epoprostenol product (Veletri) to criteria; added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Ravulizumab-cwvz (Ultomiris®) Added to continuation section no concurrent use with another complement inhibitor and revaccination requirement according to guidelines; PNH: defined symptom stabilization or improvement within continuation section; added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Repository Corticotropin (Acthar® Gel) Added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Prophylaxis Added maximum units; adjusted criteria for clarity; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Rituximab for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis Added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Romiplostim (NPlate®) Added new indication for HSARS; added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Romosozumab-aqqg (Evenity™) Added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Teprotumumab-trbw (Tepezza™) Added diagnosis confirmation criteria for active, moderate to severe TED related to related to Graves’ disease; added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Testosterone Pellet Implantation for Androgen Deficiency Added free serum testosterone for diagnosis confirmation; added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Treatment of Hereditary Angioedema Changed diagnostic requirements; added no use for treatment of laryngeal HAE attacks for Ruconest; added no use with another anti- HAE medication used for prevention or treatment of HAE attacks; continuation criteria added; added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.
Voretigene neparvovec (Luxturna®) Updated age requirement to ≥ 12 months per FDA labeling; removed requirement for no pregnancy or breastfeeding; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 4/16/2021 for effective date 6/16/2021.