Appeal type: unknown
Decision: unknown

Citations used in this letter come from Section 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations which you will find abbreviated as 42 CFR with the corresponding section numbers, i.e., 42 CFR Sections 423.578, 423.100.Medicare law defines those drugs that are eligible to be covered under the prescription drug benefit. Medicare law specifically excludes coverage for any drug for which payment would be available under Parts A or B of Medicare for that individual. Social Security Act, Section 1860D-2(e)(2)(B). Coverage is available under Medicare Part B for prescription drugs used in immunosuppressive therapy furnished to a beneficiary who has received an organ transplant, provided the beneficiary receiving the drug was enrolled in Medicare Part A at the time of the organ transplant. 42 CFR Section 410.30; Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15, Section 50.5.1. Medicare Part B local policy states that prescription drugs used in immunosuppressive therapy are covered if I) they are prescribed following a kidney transplant, II) the transplant met Medicare coverage criteria in effect with respect to the facility being approved for kidney transplant, III) the patient was enrolled in Medicare Part A at the time of the transplant, IV) the patient is enrolled in Medicare Part B at the time the drugs are dispensed and V) the drugs are furnished on or after the date of discharge. Assuming criteria I, II and III are met, a transplant is considered a covered transplant for purposes of this Medicare policy whether payment for the transplant was made by Medicare or another insurer. You can find this rule at Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC, Policy Article for Immunosuppressive Drugs (A52474) or CGS Administrators, LLC, Policy Article for Immunosuppressive Drugs (A52474). A Part D plan is permitted to use a number of different tools to manage its formulary. One of these tools is known as prior authorization. This process requires an enrollee to obtain coverage approval for a drug before the drug is dispensed and covered by the plan. 70 Federal Register No. 18, issued January 28, 2005 (Preamble to Final Rule). A Part D plan must grant an exception for a drug that is not on its formulary whenever it determines that the drug is medically necessary, consistent with the prescriber's statement, and that the drug would be covered but for the fact that it is not on the formulary. The statement must show that all of the covered drugs on any tier of the plan's formulary for treatment of the enrollee's condition would not be as effective as the non-formulary drug or would have adverse effects for the enrollee. 42 CFR Sections 423.578(b) and 423.578(b)(5)(i).The Part D Plan can only cover drugs prescribed for a medically accepted indication. The Plan requires prior approval (also called prior authorization) before covering some prescription drugs. If prior approval is not obtained, the Plan may not cover the drug. If a drug is not on the formulary (drug list), an enrollee can ask the Plan to make an exception and cover the drug. The Plan will make an exception for coverage if it determines that the requested drug is medically necessary, consistent with the prescriber's statement. The Part D Plan contract states that the Plan cannot cover drugs that would be covered under Medicare Part A or Part B. Please refer to the Plan's Evidence of Coverage.