P F
1 Jun, 2021

MDR Changes effective 01/07/2021

As part of our ongoing efforts to make high-quality and affordable healthcare available to our members, BCBSRI regularly reviews the list of prescription drugs we cover under our medical benefit. Our goal is to make sure that our members continue to have access to effective medications at the lowest possible cost. As a result, the following changes are being made to the Medical Drug Review (MDR) program. Existing and new prior authorization reviews will continue to be handled by our pharmacy benefits manager, Prime Therapeutics.

Code
Drug Name
Prior Authorization
ADD/REMOVE
Commercial
Effective Date of Change
Medicare
Effective Date of Change
Q0138
Feraheme
ADD
01/08/2021
N/A: No PA
J1439
Injectafer
ADD
01/08/2021
N/A: No PA
J1437
Monoferric
ADD
01/08/2021
N/A: No PA
J9226
Histrelin implant
ADD
01/08/2021
N/A: No PA
J3316
triptorelin
ADD
01/08/2021
N/A: No PA
J1453
Fosaprepitant (Emend)
REMOVE
01/02/2021
N/A: No PA
J1447
Granix
REMOVE
01/08/2021
01/08/2021
Q5101
Zarxio
REMOVE
01/08/2021
01/08/2021
Q5117
Kanjinti
REMOVE
01/08/2021
N/A: No PA
Q5116
Trazimera
REMOVE
01/08/2021
N/A: No PA
J2505
Neulasta
REMOVE
01/08/2021
01/08/2021
Q5111
Udenyca
REMOVE
01/08/2021
01/08/2021
Q5107
Mvasi
REMOVE
01/08/2021
N/A: No PA
Q5118
Zirabev
REMOVE
01/08/2021
N/A: No PA

 

Additionally, for our Commercial line of business, prior authorization criteria updates are being made to the following medical drugs effective July and August. The following medical drugs will require documented trial and failure of alternative medical drugs as noted below.

Medical Drug
Prior Authorization Criteria Update
Effective Date
Inflectra
Will no longer require trial and failure of Remicade
01/08/2021
Avsola
Will no longer require trial and failure of Remicade
01/08/2021
Renflexis
Will require documentation of trial and failure of Remicade, Inflectra and Avsola
01/08/2021
Avastin (oncology)
Will require documentation of trial and failure of Mvasi and Zirabev
01/08/2021
Herceptin
Will require documentation of trial and failure of Kanjinti and Trazimera
01/08/2021
Rituxan
Will require documentation of trial and failure of Truxima and Riabni
01/08/2021
Eylea
Will require documentation of trial and failure of Avastin, Mvasi or Zirabev
01/07/2021
Lucentis
Will require documentation of trial and failure of Avastin, Mvasi or Zirabev
01/07/2021
Beovu
Will require documentation of trial and failure of Avastin, Mvasi or Zirabev
01/07/2021
Nyvepria
Will require documentation of trial and failure of Neulasta and Udenyca
01/07/2021
Fulphila
Will require documentation of trial and failure of Neulasta and Udenyca
01/07/2021
Ziextenzo
Will require documentation of trial and failure of Neulasta and Udenyca
01/07/2021
Neupogen
Will require documentation of trial and failure of Granix and Zarxio
01/08/2021
Nivestym
Will require documentation of trial and failure of Granix and Zarxio
01/08/2021
Feraheme (nondialysis)
Will require documentation of trial and failure of Ferlecit, INfeD and Venofer
01/08/2021
Injectafer (nondialysis)
Will require documentation of trial and failure of Ferlecit, INfeD and Venofer
01/08/2021
Monoferric (nondialysis)
Will require documentation of trial and failure of Ferlecit, INfeD and Venofer
01/08/2021