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).The Medicare Part B national policy states that immunosuppressive drugs are covered only for the specific labeled indications and approval for marketing by the FDA (bp 102c15, ?50.5.1). Parenteral belatacept (J0485), antithymocyte globulin (J7504, J7511), muromonab-CD3 (J7505), daclizumab (J7513), cyclosporine (J7516), and tacrolimus (J7525) are not proven to be safe when administered in the home setting and therefore will be denied as not medically necessary when provided in that setting. You can find this rule at Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Immunosuppressive Drugs (L33824).Medicare law defines those drugs that may be covered under Part D. A covered prescription drug must be used for a medically accepted indication. A medically accepted indication means a use that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or a use supported by one or more citations in the drug compendia approved by Medicare. Medically accepted indications do not include uses in research or uses described in peer-reviewed medical literature. Please refer to Social Security Act, Sections 1860D-2(e)(1) and 1927(k)(6); and 42 CFR Section 423.100.The Part D Plan contract states that the Plan cannot cover drugs that would be covered under Medicare Part A or Part B. The Part D Plan can only cover drugs prescribed for a medically accepted indication. Please refer to the Plan's Evidence of Coverage (EOC).