CommercialJanuary 31, 2019
Empire expands specialty pharmacy medical step therapy drug list
Beginning January 1, 2024, Empire became Anthem. This article, published under the former brand, now applies to Anthem.
Colony Stimulating Factor Agents ING-CC-0002
Effective for dates of service on and after May 1, 2019, the following specialty pharmacy codes from new or current criteria will be included in our existing specialty pharmacy medical step therapy review process. Zarxio® will be the preferred short-acting colony stimulating factor (CSF) agent over Neupogen®, Granix®, and Nivestym™®.
Empire’s prior authorization clinical review of these specialty pharmacy drugs will be managed by AIM Specialty Health® (AIM), a separate company.
Additional information regarding biosimilar drugs can be found by viewing the attached reference document, “Biosimilar Drugs – What are they?”
To access the clinical criteria information please click here.
Clinical Criteria |
Status |
Drug |
HCPCS or CPT Code |
NDC Code |
ING-CC-0002 |
Preferred Agent |
Zarxio® |
Q5101 |
61314-0304-01 61314-0304-10 61314-0312-01 61314-0312-10 61314-0318-01 61314-0318-10 61314-0326-01 61314-0326-10 |
ING-CC-0002 |
Non-Preferred Agent |
Neupogen® |
J1442 |
55513-0530-01 55513-0530-10 55513-0546-01 55513-0546-10 55513-0924-01 55513-0924-10 55513-0924-91 55513-0209-01 55513-0209-10 55513-0209-91 |
ING-CC-0002 |
Non-Preferred Agent |
Granix® |
J1447 |
63459-0910-11 63459-0910-12 63459-0910-15 63459-0910-17 63459-0910-36 63459-0912-11 63459-0912-12 63459-0912-15 63459-0912-17 63459-0912-36 |
ING-CC-0002 |
Non-Preferred Agent |
Nivestym™ |
Q5110 |
00069-0291-10 00069-0291-01 00069-0292-01 00069-0292-10 |
ATTACHMENTS: Biosimilars_Provider FAQ_EBCBS.pdf (pdf - 0.03mb)
PUBLICATIONS: February 2019 Empire Provider Newsletter
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