HIGHMARK COMMERCIAL MEDICAL POLICY - PENNSYLVANIA

 
 

Medical Policy:
I-165-005
Topic:
Bezlotoxumab (Zinplava)
Section:
Injections
Effective Date:
May 10, 2021
Issued Date:
May 10, 2021
Last Revision Date:
April 2021
Annual Review:
April 2021
 
 

Bezlotoxumab (ZinplavaTM) is a human monoclonal antibody used to decrease the risk of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) from coming back in adult individuals who are at high risk of CDI recurrence.

Policy Position

Bezlotoxumab (Zinplava) may be considered medically necessary to reduce the recurrence of CDI in individuals who meet ALL of the following:

  • Individual is 18 years of age or older; and
  • Has a confirmed diagnosis of CDI, defined as:
    • Having passed three (3) or more loose bowel movements in 24 or fewer hours); and
    • A positive stool test for toxigenic C. difficile from a stool sample collected no more than 10 days before treatment with Zinplava; and
  • Currently receiving the standard of care antibacterial drugs for CDI such as metronidazole, vancomycin, or fidaxomycin; and
  • Individual is at high risk of CDI recurrence when ANY ONE of the following is present:
    • Individual is 65 years of age or older; or
    • Has had one (1) or more episodes of CDI within the six (6) months prior to the episode under treatment; or
    • Are immunocompromised; or
  • Has clinically severe CDI (CDI with abdominal distension, hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin less than 3g /dl) and a white blood cell (WBC) count greater than or equal to 15,000 cells/ mm 3); and
  • Zinplava will only be approved for one dose per active CDI. Zinplava will not be approved for any repeat doses for recurrence of the same active infection.

Bezlotoxumab (Zinplava) is considered experimental/investigational for any other indication and therefore non-covered.  Scientific evidence does not support its use for any other indications.

J0565



NOTE: In addition to the above criteria, product specific dosage and/or frequency limits may apply in accordance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved product prescribing information, national compendia, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and other peer reviewed resources or evidence-based guidelines. Highmark may deny, in full or in part, reimbursement for utilization that does not fall within the applicable dosage and/or frequency limits. 

 


Related Policies

Refer to Medical Policy S-241, Fecal Microbiota Transplantation, for additional information.

 


Covered Diagnosis Codes for J0565

A04.71

A04.72

 

 

 

 

 



Place of Service: Outpatient

Experimental/Investigational (E/I) services are not covered regardless of place of service.

The administration of Bezlotoxumab (Zinplava) is typically an outpatient procedure which is only eligible for coverage as an inpatient procedure in special circumstances, including, but not limited to, the presence of a co-morbid condition that would require monitoring in a more controlled environment such as the inpatient setting.


The policy position applies to all commercial lines of business



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This policy is designed to address medical guidelines that are appropriate for the majority of individuals with a particular disease, illness, or condition. Each person's unique clinical or other circumstances may warrant individual consideration, based on review of applicable medical records, as well as other regulatory, contractual and/or legal requirements.

Medical policies do not constitute medical advice, nor are they intended to govern the practice of medicine. They are intended to reflect Highmark's reimbursement and coverage guidelines. Coverage for services may vary for individual members, based on the terms of the benefit contract, and subject to the applicable laws of your state.


Highmark retains the right to review and update its medical policy guidelines at its sole discretion. These guidelines are the proprietary information of Highmark. Any sale, copying or dissemination of the medical policies is prohibited; however, limited copying of medical policies is permitted for individual use.

Discrimination is Against the Law
The Claims Administrator/Insurer complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. The Claims Administrator/Insurer does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. The Claims Administrator/ Insurer:

  • Provides free aids and services to people with disabilities to communicate effectively with us, such as: 
    • Qualified sign language interpreters
    • Written information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formats, other formats)
  • Provides free language services to people whose primary language is not English, such as: 
    • Qualified interpreters
    • Information written in other languages

If you need these services, contact the Civil Rights Coordinator. 

If you believe that the Claims Administrator/Insurer has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, you can file a grievance with: Civil Rights Coordinator, P.O. Box 22492, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Phone: 1-866-286-8295, TTY: 711, Fax: 412-544-2475, email: CivilRightsCoordinator@highmarkhealth.org. You can file a grievance in person or by mail, fax, or email. If you need help filing a grievance, the Civil Rights Coordinator is available to help you. 

You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf, or by mail or phone at: 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 
200 Independence Avenue, SW 
Room 509F, HHH Building 
Washington, D.C. 20201 
1-800-368-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD) 

Complaint forms are available at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html. 

Insurance or benefit/claims administration may be provided by Highmark, Highmark Choice Company, Highmark Coverage Advantage, Highmark Health Insurance Company, First Priority Life Insurance Company, First Priority Health, Highmark Benefits Group, Highmark Select Resources, Highmark Senior Solutions Company or Highmark Senior Health Company, all of which are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans. 





Medical policies do not constitute medical advice, nor are they intended to govern the practice of medicine. They are intended to reflect reimbursement and coverage guidelines. Coverage for services may vary for individual members, based on the terms of the benefit contract.

Discrimination is Against the Law
The Claims Administrator/Insurer complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. The Claims Administrator/Insurer does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. The Claims Administrator/ Insurer:

  • Provides free aids and services to people with disabilities to communicate effectively with us, such as:
  • Qualified sign language interpreters
  • Written information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formats, other formats)

  • Provides free language services to people whose primary language is not English, such as:
  • Qualified interpreters
  • Information written in other languages
  • If you need these services, contact the Civil Rights Coordinator.

    If you believe that the Claims Administrator/Insurer has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, you can file a grievance with: Civil Rights Coordinator, P.O. Box 22492, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Phone: 1-866-286-8295 , TTY: 711, Fax: 412-544-2475, email: CivilRightsCoordinator@highmarkhealth.org. You can file a grievance in person or by mail, fax, or email. If you need help filing a grievance, the Civil Rights Coordinator is available to help you.

    You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf, or by mail or phone at:

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
    200 Independence Avenue, SW
    Room 509F, HHH Building
    Washington, D.C. 20201
    1-800-368-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD)

    Complaint forms are available at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html.