Persius/hicric huggingface dataset:
Appeal type: Prescription Drug
Decision: Unfavorable

Medicare rules require a Part D Plan to issue a decision regarding coverage within the specified timeframe. If the Plan does not make a timely decision, this is considered a denial. The Plan forwarded this case to us as required by Medicare rules because it did not make a timely decision.You asked the Plan to provide a tiering exception for Eliquis. The Plan did not grant this request. We received this case to conduct an independent review.We asked our Physician Reviewer to determine whether the Part D Plan was correct in denying the request for a tiering exception for Eliquis. The drug is requested to treat the enrollee's condition. The drug is a brand drug on Tier 3 of the Plan's formulary. There are no available lower tier drugs on the Plan's formulary to treat the enrollee's condition. Therefore, the drug is not eligible for a tiering exception. Our Physician Reviewer's opinion is that tiering exception criteria are not met.Medicare rules permit a Plan to grant an exception to its tiering structure so long as there is a drug of the same type (such as brand or biologic drugs when considering an exception for a brand or biologic drug) in a lower cost-sharing tier approved for treating the same condition that the higher cost-sharing tiered drug is being used to treat. Our Physician Reviewer's opinion is that tiering exception criteria are not met because there are no lower cost-sharing tiered drugs of the same type for treating the enrollee's condition. Therefore, our decision is the Plan is not required to provide a tiering exception for Eliquis.
Appeal type: Prescription Drug
Decision: Unfavorable

You asked the Plan to cover Sildenafil 20 mg. The Plan did not grant this request. We received this case to conduct an independent review.Medicare law excludes certain drugs from Part D coverage. Sildenafil 20 mg is one of those excluded drugs because it is a drug used to treat sexual or erectile dysfunction. The record submitted by the Plan does not indicate that they provide supplemental coverage for Sildenafil 20 mg. Therefore, the Plan is not required to cover Sildenafil 20 mg. This decision does not address the medical necessity or appropriateness of the requested drug. It only establishes that payment cannot be made under the Medicare Part D benefit.
Appeal type: Prescription Drug
Decision: Unfavorable

You asked the Plan to provide a tiering exception for Xarelto. The Plan did not grant this request. Wereceived this case to conduct an independent review.Medicare rules do not require the Part D plan to grant a tiering exception for a brand or biologic drug if thelower tiers on the formulary only contain generic alternative drugs. Xarelto is a Tier 3 brand drug. Thelower cost-sharing tiers only contain generic alternative drugs. Therefore, our decision is the Plan is notrequired to provide a tiering exception for Xarelto.
Appeal type: Prescription Drug
Decision: Unfavorable

You asked the Plan to provide a tiering exception for Estrace cream. The Plan did not grant this request. We received this case to conduct an independent review.Medicare rules do not require the Part D plan to grant a tiering exception for a brand or biologic drug if the lower tiers on the formulary only contain generic alternative drugs. Estrace is a Tier 3 brand drug. The lower cost-sharing tiers only contain generic alternative drugs. Therefore, our decision is the Plan is not required to provide a tiering exception for Estrace.
Appeal type: Prescription Drug
Decision: Unfavorable

You asked the Plan to cover Zilretta. The Plan did not grant this request. We received this case to conduct an independent review.Medicare law specifically excludes coverage for any drug for which payment would be available under Parts A or B of Medicare for that individual. Medicare Part B pays for services and supplies incident to the service of a physician (or other practitioner). In this case, the record reflects that Zilretta will be supplied from physician and/or office stock supply, and will be billed as part of a physician service. Zilretta is a type of drug that is not usually self-administered. As a result, the drug as administered in this case appears to be eligible for coverage under Medicare Part B. Drugs which are eligible for coverage under Part B are excluded from Part D coverage by Medicare law. Therefore, it is our decision that the Part D Plan is not required to cover Zilretta. This decision does not concern the medical necessity or appropriateness of the requested drug. It only establishes if payment can be made under the Medicare Part D benefit.Please contact the Plan for more information regarding coverage of Zilretta under the Part B benefit.
Appeal type: Prescription Drug
Decision: Favorable

You asked the Plan to cover Namzaric 28-10 mg. The Plan did not grant this request. We received this caseto conduct an independent review.We asked our Physician Reviewer to determine whether the Part D Plan was correct in denying the requestfor Namzaric (Memantine-Donepezil) 28-10 mg capsule. The drug is requested to treat Alzheimer'sdisease. The prescriber has indicated why all alternatives required by the Plan would likely not be aseffective as the requested drug for the enrollee, and/or would likely cause adverse reaction(s) or other harmto the enrollee. Therefore, an exception to the Plan's coverage criteria is medically necessary. OurPhysician Reviewer's opinion is that formulary exception criteria are met.A Plan must grant an exception for a drug that is not on its formulary if it determines that the requesteddrug is medically necessary, consistent with the prescriber's statement. Based on a review of the availabledocumentation, our Physician Reviewer's opinion is that formulary exception criteria are met. Therefore,the Plan is required to cover Namzaric 28-10 mg.
Appeal type: Prescription Drug
Decision: Favorable

Medicare rules require a Part D Plan to issue a decision regarding coverage within the specified timeframe.If the Plan does not make a timely decision, this is considered a denial. The Plan forwarded this case to usas required by Medicare rules because it did not make a timely decision.You asked the Plan to cover Dexilant 60 mg. The Plan did not grant this request. We received this case toconduct an independent review.We asked our Physician Reviewer to determine whether the Plan was correct in denying the request forDexilant.Dexilant is requested for ongoing treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. The Plan's step therapyrequires a trial of two of their generic proton pump inhibitors. The Plan has indicated that per theirpreviously approved coverage of the requested drug for you, you have previously tried and failedLansoprazole, Aciphex and Pantoprazole. You tried all alternatives required by the Plan. All wereineffective in the treatment of your condition and/or caused adverse reactions or other harm to you. OurPhysician Reviewer's opinion is that step therapy criteria are met.Medicare rules allow a Part D Plan to manage its formulary by requiring step therapy for certain drugs. APlan must grant an exception to step therapy rules if it determines that the requested drug is medicallynecessary, consistent with the prescriber's statement. Based on a review of the available documentation,our Physician Reviewer's opinion is that step therapy criteria are met. Therefore, the Plan is required tocover Dexilant 60 mg.
Appeal type: Prescription Drug
Decision: Unfavorable

You asked the Plan to provide a tiering exception for Clobetasol Propionate . The Plan did not grant thisrequest. We received this case to conduct an independent review.Medicare law and Plan rules do not allow tiering exceptions for non-formulary drugs being coveredthrough a formulary exception. The documentation in the record shows that Clobetasol Propionate iscurrently being covered for the enrollee through a formulary exception. Therefore, our decision is the Planis not required to provide a tiering exception for Clobetasol Propionate.
Appeal type: Prescription Drug
Decision: Unfavorable

You asked the Plan to cover Xifaxan. The Plan did not grant this request. We received this case to conduct an independent review.We asked our Physician Reviewer to determine whether the Part D Plan was correct in denying the request for Xifaxan 550 mg tablet. The drug is requested to treat irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea. The enrollee does not satisfy the Plan's coverage criteria. You have not sufficiently addressed the Plan's coverage criteria and/or have not indicated why all alternatives required by the Plan would likely not be as effective for the enrollee as the requested drug, and/or would likely cause adverse reaction(s) or other harm to the enrollee. Our Physician's opinion is that neither prior authorization nor prior authorization exception criteria are met.Medicare rules allow a Part D Plan to manage its formulary by requiring prior approval for certain drugs. A Plan must grant an exception to prior approval rules if it determines that the requested drug is medically necessary, consistent with the prescriber's statement. Based on the available documentation, our Physician Reviewer's opinion is that an exception to prior approval criteria is not met. Therefore, the Plan is not required to cover Xifaxan.
Appeal type: Prescription Drug
Decision: Unfavorable

You asked the Plan to provide a tiering exception for Symbicort. The Plan did not grant this request. We received this case to conduct an independent review.We asked our Physician Reviewer to determine whether the Part D Plan was correct in denying the request for a tiering exception for Symbicort. The drug is requested to treat the enrollee's condition. The drug is a brand drug on tier 3 of the Plan's formulary. There are no available lower tier brand drugs on the Plan's formulary to treat the enrollee's condition. Therefore, the drug is not eligible for a tiering exception. Our Physician Reviewer's opinion is that tiering exception criteria are not met.Medicare rules permit a Plan to grant an exception to its tiering structure so long as there is a drug of the same type (such as brand or biologic drugs when considering an exception for a brand or biologic drug) in a lower cost-sharing tier approved for treating the same condition that the higher cost-sharing tiered drug is being used to treat. Our Physician Reviewer's opinion is that tiering exception criteria are not met because there are no lower cost-sharing tiered drugs of the same type for treating the enrollee's condition. Therefore, our decision is the Plan is not required to provide a tiering exception for Symbicort.Please note: there is no indication the Plan is denying coverage for Symbicort. This denial is only for the tiering exception request (lower copayment request). There is no indication the Plan will deny coverage if presented upon a valid script at an in-network pharmacy.We are dismissing the request for Albuterol. We received your letter asking for an appeal of the Plan's unfavorable determination for Albuterol. Medicare rules do not allow us to review this case until you have completed the appeal process with the Plan. You may request a Reconsideration appeal with us after the Plan issues an unfavorable Redetermination. You may wish to submit this request to the Plan at this time.
Appeal type: Prescription Drug
Decision: Unfavorable

You asked the Plan to provide a tiering exception for Eliquis. The Plan did not grant this request. We received this case to conduct an independent review. Medicare rules do not require the Part D plan to grant a tiering exception for a brand or biologic drug if the lower tiers on the formulary only contain generic alternative drugs. Eliquis is a Tier 3 brand drug. The lower cost-sharing tiers only contain generic alternative drugs. Therefore, our decision is the Plan is not required to provide a tiering exception for Eliquis.
Appeal type: Prescription Drug
Decision: Unfavorable

You asked the Plan to provide a tiering exception for Trulicity. The Plan did not grant this request. We received this case to conduct an independent review.We asked our Physician Reviewer to determine whether the Part D Plan was correct in denying the request for a tiering exception for Trulicity. Trulicity is requested to treat the enrollee's condition. The requested drug is a biologic drug on tier 3 of the Plan's formulary. There are no available lower tier biologic drugs on the Plan's formulary to treat the enrollee's condition. Therefore, the requested drug is not eligible for a tiering exception. Our Physician Reviewer's opinion is that tiering exception criteria are not met.Medicare rules permit a Plan to grant an exception to its tiering structure so long as there is a drug of the same type in a lower cost-sharing tier approved for treating the same condition that the higher cost-sharing tiered drug is being used to treat. Our Physician Reviewer's opinion is that tiering exception criteria are not met because there are no lower cost-sharing tiered drugs of the same type for treating the enrollee's condition. Therefore, our decision is the Plan is not required to provide a tiering exception for Trulicity.
Appeal type: Prescription Drug
Decision: Unfavorable

You asked the Plan to cover Epinerphine (Sulfite and Preservative Free). The Plan did not grant this request. We received this case to conduct an independent review.CMS publishes a list of participating brand name drug manufacturers that have signed the Medicare Coverage Gap discount agreement. Epinerphine (Sulfite and Preservative Free) is a brand name drug, and its manufacturer is not on this list. Therefore, the Part D Plan is not required to cover Epinerphine (Sulfite and Preservative Free).
Appeal type: Prescription Drug
Decision: Unfavorable

You asked the Plan to cover Butalbital-Aspirin-Caffeine-Codeine. The Plan did not grant this request. Wereceived this case to conduct an independent review.We asked our Physician Reviewer to determine whether the Part D Plan was correct in denying the requestfor Butalbital-Aspirin-Caffeine-Codeine.Butalbital-Aspirin-Caffeine-Codeine is requested for treatment of chronic intractable migraine headachesand frontal temporal headaches, which are off-label (non-FDA approved) uses. The Medicare-approvedcompendia do not contain any citations to support the use of the requested drug, as prescribed, for treatmentof the noted conditions. Therefore, the requested drug is not being prescribed for a medically acceptedindication as defined by Medicare law. As such, an exceptions request based on medical necessity cannotbe considered because the requested drug, as prescribed, does not meet the definition of a Medicare Part Ddrug. Therefore, the requested drug is not eligible for coverage under Medicare Part D for the notedconditions.For coverage under Part D, Medicare requires that the drug must be prescribed for a medically acceptedindication. A medically accepted indication means a use that is approved by the FDA or a use that issupported by one or more citations in Medicare approved compendia.Our Physician Reviewer reviewed this file and determined that there are no citations in the Medicareapproved compendia that support the use of Butalbital-Aspirin-Caffeine-Codeine for the diagnosedconditions. As a result, the drug is not being prescribed for a medically accepted indication as defined byMedicare law. As such, it cannot be covered under the Medicare Part D benefit for these conditions. Anexceptions request based on medical necessity cannot be considered because this drug, as prescribed, doesnot meet the definition of a Medicare Part D drug. Therefore, our decision is that the Plan is not required toprovide coverage for Butalbital-Aspirin-Caffeine-Codeine.This decision does not concern the medical necessity of the requested drug. It only establishes if paymentcan be made under the Medicare Part D benefit.
Appeal type: Prescription Drug
Decision: Unfavorable

You asked the Plan to cover Diclofenac Sodium 3% gel. The Plan did not grant this request. We receivedthis case to conduct an independent review.We asked our Physician Reviewer to determine whether the Part D Plan was correct in denying the requestfor Diclofenac Sodium 3% gel. The drug is requested to treat the enrollee's condition. A request forprescriber statement was sent and not returned. The enrollee does not satisfy the Plan's coverage criteria.You have not sufficiently addressed the Plan's coverage criteria and/or have not indicated why allalternatives required by the Plan would likely not be as effective for the enrollee as the requested drug,and/or would likely cause adverse reaction(s) or other harm to the enrollee. Our Physician's opinion is thatneither prior authorization nor prior authorization exception criteria are met.Medicare rules allow a Part D Plan to manage its formulary by requiring prior approval for certain drugs. APlan must grant an exception to prior approval rules if it determines that the requested drug is medicallynecessary, consistent with the prescriber's statement. Based on the available documentation, our PhysicianReviewer's opinion is that an exception to prior approval criteria is not met. Therefore, the Plan is notrequired to cover Diclofenac Sodium 3% gel.
Appeal type: Prescription Drug
Decision: Unfavorable

You asked the Plan to provide a tiering exception for Trelegy Ellipta. The Plan did not grant this request. We received this case to conduct an independent review.We asked our Physician Reviewer to determine whether the Part D Plan was correct in denying the request for a tiering exception for Trelegy Ellipta 100-62.5-25 mcg.The drug is requested to treat the enrollee's condition. The drug is on Tier 3 of the Plan's formulary. There are no available lower tier brand drugs on the Plan's formulary to treat the enrollee's condition. Therefore, the drug is not eligible for a tiering exception.Our Physician Reviewer's opinion is that tiering exception criteria are not met.Medicare rules permit a Plan to grant an exception to its tiering structure so long as there is a drug of the same type (such as brand or biologic drugs when considering an exception for a brand or biologic drug) in a lower cost-sharing tier approved for treating the same condition that the higher cost-sharing tiered drug is being used to treat. Our Physician Reviewer's opinion is that tiering exception criteria are not met because there are no lower cost-sharing tiered drugs of the same type for treating the enrollee's condition. Therefore, our decision is the Plan is not required to provide a tiering exception for Trelegy Ellipta.
Appeal type: Prescription Drug
Decision: Unfavorable

You asked the Plan to cover Shingrix. The Plan did not grant this request. We received this case to conduct an independent review.We asked our Physician Reviewer to determine whether the Part D Plan was correct in denying the request for Shingrix 50 mcg/0.5 mL. The drug is requested for prevention of shingles (herpes zoster) in an individual less than age 50, which is an off-label (non-FDA approved) use. The Medicare-approved compendia do not contain any citations to support the use of the requested drug, as prescribed, for treatment of the noted condition. Therefore, the requested drug is not being prescribed for a medically accepted indication as defined by Medicare law. As such, an exceptions request based on medical necessity cannot be considered because the requested drug, as prescribed, does not meet the definition of a Medicare Part D drug. Therefore, the requested drug is not eligible for coverage under Medicare Part D for the noted condition.For coverage under Part D, Medicare requires that the drug must be prescribed for a medically accepted indication. A medically accepted indication means a use that is approved by the FDA or a use that is supported by one or more citations in Medicare approved compendia. Our Physician Reviewer reviewed this file and determined that there are no citations in the Medicare approved compendia that support the use of Shingrix for the diagnosed condition. As a result, the drug is not being prescribed for a medically accepted indication as defined by Medicare law. As such, it cannot be covered under the Medicare Part D benefit for this condition. An exceptions request based on medical necessity cannot be considered because this drug, as prescribed, does not meet the definition of a Medicare Part D drug. Therefore, our decision is that the Plan is not required to provide coverage for Shingrix. This decision does not concern the medical necessity of the requested drug. It only establishes if payment can be made under the Medicare Part D benefit.
Appeal type: Prescription Drug
Decision: Unfavorable

You asked the Plan to cover Albuterol nebulizer solution. The Plan did not grant this request. We received this case to conduct an independent review.Medicare law specifically excludes coverage for any drug for which payment would be available under Part A or Part B of Medicare for that individual. Medicare Part B may pay for supplies necessary for the effective use of durable medical equipment, including drugs and biologicals which must be put directly into the equipment in order to achieve the therapeutic benefit of the durable medical equipment. Medicare Part B local policy states that a small volume nebulizer and related compressor are covered when medically necessary to administer Albuterol nebulizer solution for the management of obstructive pulmonary disease. In this case, the record shows that Albuterol nebulizer solution is administered through a nebulizer in the home for a diagnosis of ICD-10 J45.909 (Unspecified asthma, uncomplicated). There is no indication that it is not administered through a small volume nebulizer. It appears that this medication is eligible for coverage under Part B rather than Part D. Drugs which are eligible for coverage under Part B are excluded from Part D coverage by Medicare law. Therefore, it is our decision that the Part D Plan is not required to cover Albuterol nebulizer solution. This decision does not concern the medical necessity or appropriateness of the requested drug. It only establishes if payment can be made under the Medicare Part D benefit.You may wish to submit this request to the Medicare Part B carrier.
Appeal type: Prescription Drug
Decision: Unfavorable

You asked the Plan to cover Eszopiclone. The Plan did not grant this request. We received this case to conduct an independent review.We asked our Physician Reviewer to determine whether the Part D Plan was correct in denying the request for Eszopiclone. Eszopiclone is requested for ongoing treatment of insomnia. The plan has indicated in their denial letter that Trazodone and Belsomra are on their formulary. The prescriber has indicated that the enrollee has failed multiple other drugs, but has not addressed the plan's alternatives. The prescriber has not indicated why all alternatives required by the Plan would likely not be as effective for the enrollee as the requested drug; and/or would likely cause adverse reaction(s) or other harm to the enrollee. Therefore, an exception to the Plan's coverage criteria is not supported. Our Physician Reviewer's opinion is that formulary exception criteria are not met.A Plan must grant an exception for a drug that is not on its formulary if it determines that the requested drug is medically necessary, consistent with the prescriber's statement. Based on a review of the available documentation, our Physician Reviewer's opinion is that formulary exception criteria are not met. Therefore, the Plan is not required to cover Eszopiclone.