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).Effective January 1, 2011, Medicare law requires that all drugs and biologicals used in the treatment of end stage renal disease (ESRD) be included in the ESRD prospective payment system (PPS) payment bundle, including drugs formerly paid under Medicare Part D. The law identifies categories of drugs that either are, or may be, ESRD-related. Drugs that are always considered ESRD-related include access management drugs, anemia management drugs, anti-infectives to treat site access infection, bone and mineral metabolism drugs and cellular management drugs. Social Security Act, Section 1881(b)(14); 42 CFR Section 413.171; Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 11, Section 20.3; and 75 Federal Register No. 155, issued August 12, 2010 (Preamble to Final Rule).Effective February 20, 2018, Medicare law also provides coverage of related drugs under the PPS bundle for treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI). Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 11, Section 100.6.For drugs that are always considered ESRD-related, it is important to note that the ESRD bundle includes all ESRD-related drugs and biologicals, regardless of whether or not these are furnished by a dialysis facility. Thus, effective January 1, 2011, any claims for a drug included in the five categories of drugs that are always considered renal dialysis drugs when furnished to an ESRD patient and used as specified in Table 4 of the Preamble to the Final Rule would not be payable under Part D when the beneficiary is an ESRD patient in dialysis, regardless of why the drug is being furnished. Medicare Program; End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System, 75 Fed. Reg. 49030, 49050 (August 12, 2010); CMS memo: Clarification of Exclusion of Part D Payment for Drugs included in the End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment dated February 17, 2011.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 contract states that its Part D drug coverage cannot cover a drug that would be covered under Medicare Part A or Part B. 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. Please refer to the Plan's Evidence of Coverage (EOC).