Coverage Policies

Important! Please note:

Current policies effective through April 30, 2024.

Use the index below to search for coverage information on specific medical conditions.

High-Tech Imaging: High-Tech Imaging services are administered by Evolent. For coverage information and authorizations, click here.

Medical Providers: Payment for care or services is based on eligibility, medical necessity and available benefits at time of service and is subject to all contractual exclusions and limitations, including pre-existing conditions if applicable.

Future eligibility cannot be guaranteed and should be rechecked at time of service. Verify benefits by signing into My Account or calling Customer Service at 800.235.7111 or 501.228.7111.

QualChoice follows care guidelines published by MCG Health.

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Providers (PDF)

QualChoice reserves the right to alter, amend, change or supplement medical policies as needed. QualChoice reviews and authorizes services and substances. CPT and HCPCS codes are listed as a convenience and any absent, new or changed codes do not alter the intent of the policy.

INDEX:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Effective Date: 01/01/2020 Title: Polivy
Revision Date: Document: BI639:00
CPT Code(s): J9309
Public Statement

Effective Date:

a)    This policy will apply to all services performed on or after the above revision date which will become the new effective date.

b)    For all services referred to in this policy that were performed before the revision date, contact customer service for the rules that would apply.

1)    Polivy (polatuzumab vedotin-piiq) requires prior authorization.

2)    Polivy is used to treat a type of relapsed or refractory lymphoma.

3)    Polivy is a specialty drug covered under the medical benefit.


Medical Statement

I. Initial Approval Criteria

 

A. Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (must meet all):

1. Diagnosis of DLBCL (see subtypes at Appendix D);

2. Prescribed by or in consultation with an oncologist or hematologist;

3. Age ≥ 18 years;

4. Member is not a candidate for allogeneic or autologous stem cell transplant;

5. Member has received ≥ 1 prior therapy;

6. Polivy is prescribed as a single agent or in combination with bendamustine* and/or a rituximab product* ;

*Prior authorization may be required for bendamustine and rituximab products

 

7. Request meets one of the following (a or b):*

a. Dose does not exceed 1.8 mg/kg on Day 1 of a 21-day cycle, for a maximum of 6 cycles;

b. Dose is supported by practice guidelines or peer-reviewed literature for the relevant off-label use (prescriber must submit supporting evidence).

*Prescribed regimen must be FDA-approved or recommended by NCCN.

Approval duration: 6 months (medical justification supports requests for cycles beyond 6)

 

 

B. NCCN Recommended Uses (off-label) (must meet all):

1. Diagnosis of one of the following (a, b, c, d, or e):

a. Follicular lymphoma (FL) (grade 1-2);

b. Mantle cell lymphoma;

c. Monomorphic post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (B-cell type);

d. One of the following AIDS-related B-cell lymphoma subtypes (i, ii, iii, or iv):

i. AIDS-related DLBCL;

ii. Primary effusion lymphoma;

iii. HHV8-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, NOS;

iv. AIDS-related plasmablastic lymphoma;

e. Histologic transformation of nodal marginal zone lymphoma to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma;

2. Prescribed by or in consultation with an oncologist or hematologist;

3. Age ≥ 18 years;

4. For requests other than FL grade 1-2, member is not a candidate for allogeneic or autologous stem cell transplant;

5. Member has received ≥ 1 prior therapy;

6. Polivy is prescribed as a single agent or in combination with bendamustine* and/or a rituximab product* ;

*Prior authorization may be required for bendamustine and rituximab products

 

7. Dose is within FDA maximum limit for any FDA-approved indication or is supported by practice guidelines or peer-reviewed literature for the relevant off-label use (prescriber must submit supporting evidence).*

 

*Prescribed regimen must be FDA-approved or recommended by NCCN

Approval duration: 6 months (medical justification is required for requests for more than 6 cycles)

 

 

II. Continued Therapy

A. All Indications in Section I (must meet all):

1. Currently receiving medication via QualChoice benefit, or documentation supports that member is currently receiving Polivy for a covered indication and has received this medication for at least 30 days;

 

2. Member is responding positively to therapy;

3. Member meets one of the following (a or b):

a. Member has received < 6 cycles of Polivy;

b. Member has received less than the number of cycles recommended by NCCN for the covered indication;

4. If request is for a dose increase, request meets one of the following (a or b):*

a. New dose does not exceed 1.8 mg/kg on Day 1 of a 21-day cycle, for a maximum of 6 cycles;

b. New dose is supported by practice guidelines or peer-reviewed literature for the relevant off-label use (prescriber must submit supporting evidence).

 

*Prescribed regimen must be FDA-approved or recommended by NCCN.

Approval duration: 12 months (medical justification supports requests for cycles beyond 6)

 

 

Codes Used In This BI:

 

1)    J9309 Injection, polatuzumab vedotin-piiq


Reference

1. Polivy Prescribing Information. South San Francisco, CA: Genentech, Inc.; September 2020. Available at: https://www.gene.com/download/pdf/polivy_prescribing.pdf. Accessed May 2, 2022.

 

2. National Comprehensive Cancer Network Drugs and Biologics Compendium. Available at: http://www.nccn.org/professionals/drug_compendium. Accessed May 2, 2022.

 

3. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. B-Cell Lymphomas Version 3.2022. Available at: https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/b-cell.pdf. Accessed May 2, 2022.

 

Addendum:

1)    Effective 11-01-2023: Updated criteria set for DLBCL and added NCCN recommended off-label uses.


Application to Products
This policy applies to all health plans administered by QualChoice, both those insured by QualChoice and those that are self-funded by the sponsoring employer, unless there is indication in this policy otherwise or a stated exclusion in your medical plan booklet. Consult the individual plan sponsor Summary Plan Description (SPD) for self-insured plans or the specific Evidence of Coverage (EOC) for those plans insured by QualChoice. In the event of a discrepancy between this policy and a self-insured customer’s SPD or the specific QualChoice EOC, the SPD or EOC, as applicable, will prevail. State and federal mandates will be followed as they apply.
Changes: QualChoice reserves the right to alter, amend, change or supplement benefit interpretations as needed.
This policy has recently been updated. Please use the index above or enter policy title in search bar for the latest version.