At a glance:

• Total Member View (TMV) provides a full 360‑degree view of patient health and treatment history.
• Easily identify and provide feedback on patients missing essential preventive screenings, follow‑up appointments, or necessary treatments.
• User‑friendly guides available for seamless navigation and usage of TMV.

TMV is a dashboard you can access through Payer Spaces in the Availity Essentials platform that gives you a full 360‑degree view of your patient’s health and treatment history to help you facilitate care coordination. You can drill down to specific items in a patient’s medical record to retrieve demographic information, care summaries, claims details, authorization details, pharmacy information, and care management‑related activities.

TMV is replacing the previous Patient 360 (P360) dashboard that you may have used to access your patient’s medical records. The TMV user interface is purple and says Total Member View in the upper right corner. TMV highlights include viewing your patients who have a care gap and providing feedback on care gaps. If you were a user of the P360 dashboard, moving to Total Member View will be a simple transition.

Viewing your patients who have a care gap:

• After selecting the Total Member View application tile in Payer Spaces, you will be taken to the Summary tab.
• Within the Summary tab, locate and select the care gap alert name on the Active Alerts card.

Providing feedback on care gaps:

• Select the line item of the care gap on the Active Alerts card you would like to provide feedback on. A Care Gap Alert Feedback Entry dialog box will display.
• From the Latest Feedback field, select the drop‑down arrow, then select the type of feedback you would like to provide (for example, My Patient is compliant with message suggestion, My Patient will not likely comply with this suggestion).
• Once selected, choose Save.

User guide

The Total Member View Availity User Guide illustrates step‑by-step instructions on accessing and navigating through the Availity Essentials platform and how to use the system. This guide is available through the Digital Solutions Learning Hub.

We are committed to finding solutions that help our care provider partners offer quality services to our members.

We are updating the maternity notification process at https://Availity.com to make it more user‑friendly.

When specific conditions are met regarding maternity, a screen will appear after the Eligibility & Benefits (E&B) request and prior to the E&B response screen.

On this screen, users will be prompted to answer a few simple questions:

• Is the patient currently pregnant? Yes or no.

If the answer is yes, users will also be asked:

• What is the estimated delivery date?
• What is or was the first prenatal visit date?

After answering these questions, select Submit to proceed to the E&B response screen.

Answering these questions is optional. However, providing this information assists us with gathering relevant maternity information promptly and efficiently. Please note that this process does not replace the Notification of Pregnancy (NOP) process.

The Medical Policies, Clinical Utilization Management (UM) Guidelines, and Third­-Party Criteria below were developed and/or revised during Quarter Two, 2024. Note, several policies and guidelines were revised to provide clarification only and are not included. Some may have expanded rationales, medical necessity indications, or criteria, and some may involve changes to policy position statements that might result in services that previously were covered being found to be not medically necessary.

Please share this notice with other providers in your practice and office staff.

To view a guideline, visit the Criteria Search Page.

Notes/updates

Updates marked with an asterisk (*) notate that the criteria may be perceived as more restrictive:

• MED.00148 ­ Gene Therapy for Metachromatic Leukodystrophy:
• Outlines the Medically Necessary and Not Medically Necessary criteria for gene therapy for metachromatic leukodystrophy

Medical Policies

On May 9, 2024, the Medical Policy and Technology Assessment Committee (MPTAC) approved the following Medical Policies. These medical policies take effect January 5, 2025.

Special note

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield will implement the following new and revised Coverage Guidelines effective April 1, 2025. These guidelines impact all our products with the exception of the Anthem HealthKeepers Plus program, Medicare Advantage; and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan (also called the Federal Employee Program or FEP). These guidelines were among those recently approved at the Medical Policy and Technology Assessment Committee meeting held November 14, 2024.

The guidelines addressed in this edition of Provider News are:

• DME.00053 Home Video‑Assisted Robotic Rehabilitation Systems
• DME.00011 Electrical Stimulation as a Treatment for Pain and Other Conditions: Surface and Percutaneous Devices
• TRANS.00033 Heart Transplantation
• MED.00152 Outpatient Intravenous Insulin Therapy
• CG‑SURG-83 Bariatric Surgery and Other Treatments for Clinically Severe Obesity
• SURG.00165 Histotripsy

Home Video‑Assisted Robotic Rehabilitation Systems (DME.00053)

This new coverage guideline addresses home use of video‑assisted robotic rehabilitation systems such as the Motus Hand or Motus Foot devices. Home video‑assisted robotic rehabilitation systems are considered investigational and not medically necessary for all indications. The HCPCS code associated with this revised coverage guideline is E0739.

Electrical Stimulation as a Treatment for Pain and Other Conditions: Surface and Percutaneous Devices (DME.00011)

This coverage guideline addresses certain types of electrical stimulation devices. Bimodal (acoustic and peripheral nerve electrical stimulation) neuromodulation therapy was added to the guideline and is considered investigational and not medically necessary for all indications. The CPT^® and HCPCS codes associated with this revised coverage guideline are 64999, 0278T, 0720T, 0766T, 0767T, 0783T, A4540, A4543, A4544, A4596, E0721, E0732, E0743, E0761, E0762, E0769, E1399, S8130, S8131, and S8930.

Heart Transplantation (TRANS.00033)

This coverage guideline addresses heart transplantation. Revisions involve cardiopulmonary exercise testing results criteria to include any of the following:

• Individuals on beta‑blocker maximal VO2 less than or equal to 12 ml/kg/min
• Individuals off beta‑blocker maximal VO2 less than or equal to 14 ml/kg/min
• Individuals with obesity (BMI greater than or equal to 30kg/m²) with a peak VO2 adjusted for lean body mass less than or equal to 19 ml/kg/min.

In heart transplant candidates with a history of malignancy, documentation of consultation with an oncology specialist that confers suitability of the individual for heart transplantation.

The CPT codes associated with this guideline are 00580, 33929, 33940, 33944, and 33945.

Outpatient Intravenous Insulin Therapy (MED.00152)

This new coverage guideline addresses outpatient intravenous insulin therapy, which is considered investigational and not medically necessary as a treatment for all indications, including diabetes. The HCPCS code associated with this new coverage guideline is G9147.

Bariatric Surgery and Other Treatments for Clinically Severe Obesity (CG‑SURG-83)

This clinical guideline was revised to address endoluminal reoperative bariatric procedures. Endoluminal reoperative bariatric procedures , including, but not limited to, transoral outlet reduction (TORe) or restorative obesity surgery endoluminal (ROSE) are considered not medically necessary for all indications . The CPT and HCPCS codes associated with this guideline are 43644, 43645, 43770, 43771, 43772, 43773, 43774, 43775, 43842, 43843, 43845, 43846, 43847, 43848, 43886, 43887, 43888, 37242, 43290, 43291, 43632, 43633, 43659, 43999, 44238, 64999, 0813T, C9784, C9785.

Histotripsy (SURG.00165)

This new coverage guideline was adapted from CG‑SURG-78 and addresses the use of histotripsy to ablate tissue. Histotripsy is considered investigational and not medically necessary for all indications. The CPT codes associated with this new coverage guideline are 0686T, 0888T, 55899.

These coverage guidelines are available for review at Anthem.com.

Effective for dates of service on and after March 23, 2025, the following updates will apply to the Carelon Medical Benefits Management Clinical Appropriateness Guidelines. As part of the Carelon Medical Benefits Management guideline annual review process, these updates are focused on advancing efforts to drive clinically appropriate, safe, and affordable healthcare services.

Note: several policies and guidelines were revised to provide clarification only and are not included. Some may have expanded rationales, medical necessity indications or criteria, and some may involve changes to policy position statements that might result in services that previously were covered being found to be not medically necessary.

Advanced Imaging/Radiology

Oncologic Imaging:

• NCCN alignments for cancer screening and tumor-specific indications (see change summary), largely addressing time intervals of screening or surveillance imaging
• Added FDG PET allowances for colorectal cancer and lung cancer (small cell) accounting for nondiagnostic standard imaging

Imaging of the Abdomen and Pelvis:

• Tumor or neoplasm — added requirement for initial evaluation of testicular masses with US
• Endometriosis — removed US requirement for follow-up of patients with established diagnosis
• Obstetric indications — specified that fetal MRI is indicated in second or third trimester
• Diffuse liver disease — removed criteria for LiverMultiScan as an alternative to MR elastography
• Abdominal and/or pelvic pain, undifferentiated — clarified language regarding initial imaging and lab evaluation

Imaging of the Chest:

• Added indication for dyspnea

Radiation Oncology

Radiation Therapy:

• Special treatment procedure and special physics consult — limited the scenarios where special treatment procedure and special physics consult are indicated to more closely align with recent ASTRO guidance
• Breast cancer — reduced the minimum age at which patients with invasive disease meet criteria for accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI)
• Head and neck cancer — removed indication for neutron therapy as this is no longer routinely used
• Lung cancer — clarified that the maximum number of fractions for SBRT is five in both NSCLC and SCLC
• Oligometastatic extracranial disease — added scenario for oligoprogressive extracranial disease
• Other tumor types:
  • Combined criteria for IMRT, SRS, and SBRT
  • Expanded criteria for SRS and SBRT to include any radiosensitive tumor
• Prostate cancer:
  • Modified number of fractions indicated, due to larger dose given in each individual fraction (no change in total dose to be given)
  • Added scenario for salvage treatment after prostatectomy
  • Added max fraction number for salvage RT

Hydrogel Spacers:

• Expanded the use of hydrogel spacers to include them in patients receiving any form of external beam radiation therapy

Proton Beam Therapy:

• Added clarifying statement that generic case control plan comparison is insufficient and that patient-specific IMRT isodose comparison is required

As a reminder, ordering and servicing providers may submit prior authorization requests to Carelon Medical Benefits Management by accessing the ProviderPortal_SM directly at www.providerportal.com. Online access is available 24/7 to process orders in real-time and is the fastest and most convenient way to request authorization.

If you have any guideline-related questions, email Carelon Medical Benefits Management at MedicalBenefitsManagement.guidelines@Carelon.com. Additionally, you may access and download a copy of the current and upcoming guidelines here.

Effective for dates of service on and after April 23, 2025, the following updates will apply to the Carelon Medical Benefits Management Clinical Appropriateness Guidelines. As part of the Carelon Medical Benefits Management guideline annual review process, these updates focus on advancing efforts to drive clinically appropriate, safe, and affordable healthcare services.

Note, several policies and guidelines were revised to provide clarification only and are not included. Some may have expanded rationales, medical necessity indications or criteria and some may involve changes to policy position statements that might result in services that previously were covered being found to be not medically necessary.

Advanced Imaging/Radiology

Oncologic Imaging:

• National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) alignments for Cancer Screening and tumor‑specific indications, largely addressing time intervals of screening or surveillance imaging
• Added FDG‑PET allowances for Colorectal Cancer and Lung Cancer (Small Cell) accounting for nondiagnostic standard imaging

Imaging of the Abdomen and Pelvis:

• Tumor or neoplasm — added requirement for initial evaluation of testicular masses with US
• Endometriosis — removed US requirement for follow‑up of patients with an established diagnosis
• Obstetric indications — specified that fetal MRI is indicated in the second or third trimester
• Diffuse liver disease — removed criteria for LiverMultiScan as an alternative to MR elastography
• Abdominal and/or pelvic pain, undifferentiated — clarified language regarding initial imaging and lab evaluation

Imaging of the Chest:

• Added indication for dyspnea

Genetic Testing

Carrier Screening in the Reproductive Setting:

• Standard carrier screening ‑ removed CBC from the list of acceptable prior testing restrictions for hemoglobinopathy screening
• Expanded Carrier screening:
• Clarified that medical records should attest to adoption or consanguinity
• Expansive criteria to allow for multigene panels to include conditions with less than 1 in 100 carrier frequencies for individuals in a consanguineous partnership
• Removed requirement that alternate biochemical tests are not available, have provided an indeterminate result, or are less accurate than genetic testing

Genetic Testing for Inherited Conditions:

• Added expansive criteria to allow confirmatory genetic testing for individuals identified to have a pathogenic or likely pathogenic germline variant in genes with established clinical utility based on results of IRB‑approved clinical research studies
• Cardiac conditions:
• Expanded genetic testing criteria for hereditary cardiomyopathy syndromes in the pediatric population
• Added new expansive medical necessity criteria for hereditary aortopathies
• Neurological conditions ‑ expanded criteria to allow SOD1 genetic testing in individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) when determined to be a candidate for FDA‑approved Qalsody (tofersen) treatment
• Thrombophilia testing:
• Removed restriction of low bleeding risk in individuals with an unprovoked VTE who are planning to stop anticoagulation
• Removed criterion (last bullet) to allow F5 and F2 genetic testing for individuals contemplating estrogen use when they have a first‑degree relative with VTE and a known hereditary thrombophilia per ASH guidance

Hereditary Cancer Testing:

• Removed requirement that alternate biochemical tests are not available, have provided an indeterminate result, or are less accurate than genetic testing
• Listed specific examples of somatic test findings that, per ASCO guideline, should generate consideration of germline testing (clarification)
• Expanded criteria to allow confirmatory genetic testing for individuals identified to have a pathogenic or likely pathogenic germline variant in genes with established clinical utility based on results from direct‑to-consumer genetic testing or results from an IRB‑approved clinical research study
• Adenomatous polyp syndromes:
• Added expansive criteria to include individuals with multifocal or bilateral congenital hypertrophy of retinal pigment epithelium (CHRPE)
• Added expansive criteria to include first‑, second‑, or third‑degree relatives with known pathogenic variant or clinical findings suggestive of an inherited polyposis syndrome
• Juvenile polyposis syndrome:
• Increased testing requirement for the number of juvenile polyps in the colon from three to five (restrictive)
• Cowden syndrome:
• Expanded minor criteria to include colorectal cancer and lipomas to the list of conditions that may be present
• Lynch syndrome:
• Personal history criteria expanded to include any Lynch syndrome related cancer: colorectal, endometrial, gastric, ovarian, pancreatic, urothelial, CNS glioma, biliary tract, small intestine, sebaceous adenomas or carcinomas, keratoacanthomas, or breast carcinomas with medullary features
• Li‑Fraumeni syndrome:
• Expanded the personal history criteria to include pediatric hypodiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia
• Restricted germline testing criteria for testing as a follow‑up to TP53 positive somatic tumor test results as per ASCO guideline
• Restricted germline testing criteria for testing of unaffected first‑, second‑, or third‑degree relatives to individuals whose affected relative meets LFS personal history criteria
• Hereditary Breast Cancer:
• Expanded BRCA1/2 testing criteria to include all women <65 with personal history of breast cancer
• All individuals who are candidates for PARP inhibitor therapy are included in scope for testing
• Clarified the statement about BRCA risk models, eliminating reference to tools that are not examples of validated risk models
• Family history criteria for testing related to having a relative with multiple primary breast cancers expanded to first‑ or second‑degree relative
• Family history criteria for testing related to having a relative with epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer expanded to include first‑, second‑, or third‑degree relatives
• Family history criteria for testing related to having a relative with breast cancer who is also an individual assigned male sex at birth expanded to include first‑, second‑, or third‑degree relatives
• Family history criteria for testing related to having a relative age <50 with breast cancer expanded to be at least one relative who is a first‑, second, or third‑degree blood relative
• Hereditary epithelial ovarian cancer:
• Clarified the statement about BRCA risk models, eliminating reference to tools that are not examples of validated risk models
• Hereditary pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma:
• Clarified the statement about BRCA risk models, eliminating reference to tools that are not examples of validated risk models
• Multi‑gene panel testing for HBOP:
• For pancreatic carcinoma, expanded the multi‑gene panel list to include CDK4
• For breast cancer, removed the following genes from the multi‑gene panel list: ATM, BARD1, CHEK2, RAD51C, and RAD51D
• Melanoma:
• Gene list expanded to 20 genes and can include CDK4 pathogenic variants
• Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome:
• Expanded threshold for the number of basal cell carcinomas from 5 in a lifetime to as low as two (multiple) if this is considered out of proportion to prior skin exposure or skin type
• Removed age restriction for Lamellar calcification of the falx cerebri (major criterion)
• Endocrine neoplasms:
• Expanded criteria to include early onset GI stromal tumors to account for evaluation for SDHB gene‑deficient GIST
• Kidney cancer:
• Expanded criteria to include individuals with a personal history of various rare kidney tumors (Birt‑Hogge-Dubé syndrome, HLRCC associated renal cell carcinoma, and more)
• Expanded criteria to include unaffected individuals with two or more first‑ or second‑degree relatives with renal cell carcinoma
• Prostate Cancer:
• For individuals with low‑risk prostate cancer, criteria expanded to include family history of breast cancer in relatives assigned female at birth and age ≤50; family history of pancreatic, gastric, brain, melanoma, intestinal (colorectal or small bowel), or endometrial cancer diagnosed at age ≤50; family history of upper tract urothelial cancer(s) in first‑ or second‑degree relatives; Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry; intraductal or cribriform histology
• For individuals with an intermediate risk of prostate cancer, criteria expanded to include family history of breast cancer in relatives assigned female at birth and age ≤50; family history of pancreatic, gastric, brain, melanoma, intestinal (colorectal or small bowel), or endometrial cancer diagnosed at age ≤50; family history of upper tract urothelial cancer(s) in first‑ or second‑degree relatives
• Removed CHEK2 or PALB2 from the multi‑panel gene list for prostate cancer
• Expanded family history criteria to first‑, second‑, or third‑degree relatives with multiple primary breast cancers
• Expanded family history criteria of prostate cancer diagnosed before age 60 to include at least one first‑ or second‑degree relative
• For individuals unaffected by prostate cancer, criteria are expanded to include 11 additional family history indicators for risk of BRCA1 or BRCA2 pathogenic variants that match the Hereditary breast cancer family history criteria
• Clarified the statement about BRCA risk models, eliminating reference to tools that are not examples of validated risk models

Radiation Oncology

Radiation Therapy:

• Special Treatment Procedure and Special Physics Consult: limited the scenarios where special treatment procedure and special physics consult are indicated, to more closely align with recent ASTRO guidance
• Breast cancer — reduced the minimum age at which patients with invasive disease meet criteria for accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI)
• Head and neck cancer — removed indication for neutron therapy as this is no longer routinely used.
• Lung cancer — clarified that the maximum number of fractions for SBRT is 5 in both NSCLC and SCLC
• Oligometastatic extracranial disease — added scenario for oligoprogressive extracranial disease
• Other tumor types:
• Combined criteria for IMRT, SRS, and SBRT
• Expanded criteria for SRS and SBRT to include any radiosensitive tumor
• Prostate cancer:
• Modified number of fractions indicated, due to larger dose given in each individual fraction (no change in total dose to be given)
• Added scenario for salvage treatment after prostatectomy
• Added max fraction number for salvage RT

Hydrogel Spacers:

• Expanded the use of hydrogel spacers to include them in patients receiving any form of external beam radiation therapy

Proton Beam Therapy:

• Added clarifying statement that generic case control plan comparison is insufficient and that patient‑specific IMRT isodose comparison is required

As a reminder, ordering and servicing providers may submit prior authorization requests to Carelon Medical Benefits Management using the following:

• Access Carelon Medical Benefit Management’s provider portal directly at providerportal.com:
• Online access is available 24/7 to process orders in real time. It is the fastest and most convenient way to request authorization.

If you have questions related to guidelines, please contact Carelon Medical Benefits Management via email at medicalbenefitsmanagement.guidelines@carelon.com. Additionally, you may access and download a copy of the current and upcoming guidelines here.

To view the 2025 benefits and changes for the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) and Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) programs, go to fepblue.org. Select Get Support & Resources > Brochures & Resources. Here you will find the plan brochures, benefit plan summaries, and quick reference guides for 2025.

If you have questions, please contact Customer Service at:

California — FEHB: 800‑284-9093 or PSHB: 833‑821-2287

Colorado — FEHB: 800‑852-5957 or PSHB: 833‑821-2313

Connecticut — FEHB: 800‑438-5356 or PSHB: 833‑821-2261

Georgia — FEHB: 800‑282-2473 or PSHB: 833‑821-2257

Indiana — FEHB: 800‑382-5520 or PSHB: 833‑821-1958

Kentucky — FEHB: 800‑456-3967 or PSHB: 833‑821-1960

Maine — FEHB: 800‑722-0203 or PSHB: 833‑821-2263

Missouri — FEHB: 800‑392-8043 or PSHB: 833‑821-1966

Nevada — FEHB: 800‑727-4060 or PSHB: 833‑821-2325

New Hampshire — FEHB: 800‑852-3316 or PSHB: 833‑821-2286

New York — FEHB: 800‑522-5566 or PSHB: 833‑821-2256

Ohio — FEHB: 800‑451-7602 or PSHB: 833‑821-1970

Virginia — FEHB: 800‑552-6989 or PSHB: 833‑821-2258

Wisconsin — FEHB: 800‑242-9635 or PSHB: 833‑821-2245

Prior authorization

Effective for dates of service on or after March 1, 2025, the specialty Medicare Part B drug listed in the table below will be included in our precertification review process.

Federal and state law, as well as state contract language and CMS guidelines, including definitions and specific contract provisions/exclusions, take precedence over these precertification rules and must be considered first when determining coverage. Noncompliance with new requirements may result in denied claims.

Step therapy

Effective March 1, 2025, the following Part B medications from the current Clinical Criteria Guidelines will be included in our medical step therapy precertification review process. Step therapy review will apply upon precertification initiation, in addition to the current medical necessity review (as is current procedure). Step therapy will not apply for members who are actively receiving medications listed below.

Clinical Criteria Guidelines are publicly available on the provider website. Visit the Clinical Criteria page to search for specific criteria.

Effective January 1, 2025, and upon member consent, specialty pharmacy prescriptions for Medicare members currently being dispensed by CarelonRx Specialty Pharmacy will be transferred to BioPlus Specialty Pharmacy.

What happens next?

• Medicare patients received a letter in November explaining this transition. If they provide consent to move to BioPlus, they will receive a phone call from BioPlus to review important information related to their prescriptions.
• If you have Medicare patients who choose to move their prescription, BioPlus will contact you to request new prescriptions, refills, or prior authorizations.
• If you have Medicare patients who choose not to move their prescription, no action is required.

Benefits of working with BioPlus

If your Medicare patients choose to move to BioPlus, here is what you can expect:

• Faster approvals:
• Know in two hours whether your patient’s medication will be filled
• Less paperwork and hassle over benefits verification and appeals
• More help with securing patient financial assistance

CarelonRx, Inc. and BioPlus work together to deliver patients an unparalleled level of high‑tech, high‑touch service that focuses on their whole health.

If you have questions, contact your provider relationship management representative or BioPlus directly at 833‑549-2874.

Through genuine collaboration, we can simplify access to care and help you deliver high‑quality, equitable healthcare.

Our pharmacy benefit management partner, CarelonRx Inc., has acquired Kroger Specialty Pharmacy. This follows the recent acquisitions of BioPlus Specialty Pharmacy, all aimed at enhancing support for individuals with chronic and complex conditions.

To ensure a seamless patient experience, most prescriptions for former Kroger Specialty Pharmacy patients are being handled by BioPlus Specialty Pharmacy, a CarelonRx company. If you have new specialty pharmacy prescriptions, please send them to BioPlus Specialty Pharmacy.

If you have any questions, please call your provider relationship management representative.

With your help, we can continually build towards a future of shared success.

The CarelonRx, Inc. weight management program offers support and advocacy for patients throughout their weight loss journey. Individuals who are at least 18 years of age with a BMI of at least 27 have access to personalized weight management from CarelonRx through their partner, Lark. CarelonRx’s weight management program will provide access to digital coaching and wellness tools to help participants manage and monitor their weight goals. Patients benefit from 24/7 digital connectivity and access to personalized coaching support whenever needed. Patients design their own journey with goals and missions to inform personalized wellness plans to ensure a holistic experience.

What your patients can expect:

1. Engagement in lifestyle support through the Lark mobile app, which includes diet, exercise, and nutrition
2. Behavioral health support and ongoing social drivers of health (SDOH) monitoring
3. Injection, adherence, and side effect support for those on a GLP‑1 for weight loss
4. Ongoing weight maintenance support tailored to individual weight loss goals

Take action

If a prior authorization (PA) is requested, you will be asked to confirm the member's enrollment in the Lark Weight Management Program.

For more information about the program, members can:

• Visit Anthem.com or the Sydney mobile app.
• Call the customer service number on the back of their identification card.

Effective for dates of service on or after April 1, 2025, the specialty Medicare Part B drug listed in the table below will be included in our precertification review process.

Federal and state law, as well as state contract language and CMS guidelines, including definitions and specific contract provisions/exclusions, take precedence over these precertification rules and must be considered first when determining coverage. Noncompliance with new requirements may result in denied claims.

Notification of Specialty Pharmacy Medical Step Therapy updates

Effective February 1, 2025, the following Part B medications from the current Clinical Criteria Guidelines will be included in our medical step therapy precertification review process. Step therapy review will apply upon precertification initiation, in addition to the current medical necessity review (as is current procedure). Step therapy will not apply for members who are actively receiving medications listed below.

Clinical UM Guidelines are publicly available on the provider website. Visit the Clinical Criteria page to search for specific criteria.

Our state partner has an important communication to share with you – check out the Attachment section for more information.

On October 11, 2024, Pine Pharmaceuticals, the largest producer of repackaged bevacizumab (Avastin^®), communicated that it would no longer be a supplier of repackaged, prefilled bevacizumab syringes.

Our preferred products include Avastin, Byooviz, Cimerli, Eylea, Eylea HD, Lucentis, and Vabysmo. To avoid access issues or treatment delays for members receiving this treatment, we encourage providers to reach out if necessary to our prior authorization department for an alternative antivascular endothelial growth factor drug for our members. All expedited requests for a Part B drug will have a determination made and the enrollee will be notified of the decision as expeditiously as the enrollee’s health condition requires, but no later than 24 hours after the request is received.