Effective January 1, 2019, Independence will make the following changes to more effectively manage two specialty drugs that treat cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS):

• Arcalyst^? (rilonacept) will be transitioned from the medical benefit to the pharmacy benefit. This drug is considered a self-administered drug by its manufacturer. As such, Independence provides coverage for self-administered drugs under the pharmacy benefit through FutureScripts^?, our independent pharmacy benefits manager. Independence members who do not have FutureScripts should contact their pharmacy benefits manager to see how Arcalyst is covered through their prescription drug plan.
• Ilaris^? (canakinumab) will require precertification for all members enrolled in Independence Commercial and Medicare Advantage plans. In addition, Ilaris will be added to the Dosage and Frequency Program for all members, as well as the Most Cost-Effective Setting Program for members enrolled in commercial plans. All requests for Ilaris will require review for medical necessity, dosage and frequency, and, when appropriate, setting during the precertification process.

  Note: Members enrolled in commercial plans who already obtained precertification approval to receive Ilaris in a hospital outpatient facility may continue treatment in this setting until their current precertification approval expires. At the next precertification review, Independence will evaluate the requested setting and make a coverage determination.

About the Dosage and Frequency Program

Since January 1, 2011, Independence has reviewed the requested dosage and frequency of administration for select drugs as part of the precertification process. Coverage of the drugs included in this program is contingent upon review by Independence for appropriate dosage and frequency. Providers who request coverage above the dosage and frequency requirements listed in the medical policies for each drug will be required to submit documentation (i.e., published peer-reviewed literature) to Independence to support the request.

Independence reserves the right to conduct a post-payment review and audit of claims submitted for any drug that is part of the Dosage and Frequency Program and may recover payments that exceed the amount approved through the precertification process. For more information on the dosage and frequency guidelines, please refer to the specific policies for each drug included in the program.

About the Most Cost-Effective Setting Program

During precertification review, each member?s medical needs and clinical history are evaluated to determine if the drug requested by the provider is appropriate. Since January 1, 2012, as part of our Most Cost-Effective Setting Program, Independence has been reviewing the requested treatment setting for certain drugs covered under the member?s medical benefit to ensure that they are administered in settings that are both safe and cost-effective.

Covered settings for drugs in this program include:

• a physician?s office;
• the member?s home, where the infusion 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 setting will primarily be considered for members who are receiving an initial dose of Ilaris, or if there is a clinical rationale that requires the member to receive treatment in that setting. The provider must submit documentation to Independence to support the request for coverage in the hospital outpatient facility. This information will be reviewed and a coverage determination on setting will be made.

Medical policy information

Independence?s commercial Medical Policy #08.00.78: Self-Administered Drugs is currently being updated to include Arcalyst. To access this policy, visit our Medical Policy Portal. Select Accept and Go to Medical Policy Online, then select Commercial, and type the policy name or number in the Search field.

We are in the process of creating new medical policies for Ilaris. In the interim, requests for Ilaris received on or after January 1, 2019, will be evaluated in accordance with the manufacturer?s prescribing information and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration labeling.

If you have any questions about these changes, please call the Independence Clinical Services department at 1-800-ASK-BLUE.

FutureScripts is an independent company that provides pharmacy benefits management services.