Effective January 1, 2017, Independence is changing how we manage the
drugs Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim) and
Neulasta® Onpro®*. Currently, these drugs are
covered under the medical benefit and do not require precertification
approval. For dates of service on or after January 1, 2017, the following
changes will occur:
- All requests for these drugs under the medical benefit will require
precertification approval from Independence.
- As part of the precertification process, Independence will also review the
setting where our commercial members
receive these drugs.
- Some members, including those whose pharmacy benefits are managed by
FutureScripts®, our independent
pharmacy benefits manager, will also be able to obtain these drugs under their
pharmacy benefit.
During the next few weeks, Independence will send letters to notify affected
providers and members about these
changes.
Precertification requirements
Independence requires precertification approval for many specialty drugs
covered under the medical benefit. This
ensures that our members are receiving medications in accordance with the
medical necessity criteria outlined in our
medical policies.
For dates of service on or after January 1, 2017, all requests for
Neulasta® under the medical benefit will require
precertification approval from Independence for commercial members. This
applies to members who are new to
treatment with Neulasta®, as well as to those who have
previously received the drug.
According to its U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved label,
Neulasta® must be given 24 hours after
chemotherapy.
Due to the time-sensitive nature of Neulasta®, it is
important to request precertification approval in advance of the
member's scheduled treatment date. This allows ample time for Independence to
review provider requests.
Most Cost-Effective Setting requirements
During precertification review, each member?s medical
needs and clinical history are evaluated to determine
if the drug requested by the provider is appropriate.
As part of this precertification process, Independence
reviews the provider's request for treatment setting
for certain drugs covered under the medical benefit.
Our Most Cost-Effective Setting Program ensures
that members receive treatment in a setting that is
both safe and cost-effective. As communicated in the
October 2016 edition of Partners in Health UpdateSM,
starting January 1, 2017, Neulasta® will be added
to the Most Cost-Effective Setting Program for all
commercial members.
Covered settings for Neulasta® include:
- a physician's office;
- the member?s home, where the injection is
administered by an in-network home infusion
provider;
- an ambulatory (freestanding) infusion suite that is
not owned by a hospital or health system in our
network.
A hospital outpatient facility is the most costly setting
in which to receive Neulasta
®; therefore, it will primarily
be approved only for members who are receiving an
initial dose of Neulasta
® or if there is a clinical rationale
that requires the member to receive Neulasta
® in the
hospital outpatient facility. If the hospital outpatient
facility is thought to be clinically necessary, the provider must submit
documentation to Independence that addresses
these circumstances.
Coverage for Neulasta? under the
pharmacy benefit for commercial
members
Covering Neulasta® and Neulasta® Onpro
®* under the
medical or pharmacy benefit gives our commercial
members more coverage options and greater
convenience. Depending on their benefit contract,
the copayment, deductible, and/or coinsurance may
vary between medical and pharmacy benefits. We
are encouraging members to compare both benefits
to determine the coverage option that is more
advantageous for them.
For members who choose to obtain Neulasta® under
the pharmacy benefit through FutureScripts, providers
will need to write new prescriptions. Providers will
also need to ask members if they are interested in
learning how to self-administer Neulasta® in their
home or if they will return to the office the day after
chemotherapy to receive Neulasta®.
For members who do not have pharmacy benefits with
FutureScripts but are interested in self-administering
Neulasta®, providers should encourage them to
contact their pharmacy benefits manager to determine
if Neulasta® is available under their prescription drug
plan. If it is, members should be directed to compare
the terms of their medical and pharmacy benefit plans
to identify the benefit that provides more cost savings
and/or convenience.
For more information
Providers can also find additional information about this program in the
following Independence medical policies,
which are currently posted as Notifications and will become effective on
January 1, 2017:
- Commercial: #08.01.32: Pegfilgrastim (Neulasta®)
- Medicare Advantage: #MA08.082: Pegfilgrastim
(Neulasta®)
To access medical policies, visit our
Medical Policy Portal. Select
Accept and Go to
Medical Policy Online, then select
Commercial or
Medicare
Advantage, under Active Notifications.
If you have questions about any of these changes, contact your Network
Coordinator.
*All mentions of Neulasta® are inclusive
of Neulasta® Onpro®.
FutureScripts is an independent company that provides pharmacy benefits
management services.