HIGHMARK COMMERCIAL MEDICAL POLICY - PENNSYLVANIA

 
 

Medical Policy:
I-206-001
Topic:
Onasemnogene Abeparvovec (Zolgensma)
Section:
Injections
Effective Date:
June 10, 2019
Issued Date:
June 10, 2019
Last Revision Date:
May 2019
Annual Review:
May 2019
 
 

Onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi (Zolgensma®) is a recombinant adeno-associated viral vector-based (AAV9) one-time gene replacement therapy. Onasemnogene abeparvovec (Zolgensma) is designed to deliver a copy of the gene encoding the human survival motor neuron (SMN) protein. Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is caused by a bi-allelic mutation in the SMN1 gene resulting in insufficient SMN protein expression.

Individuals receiving onasemnogene abeparvovec (Zolgensma) should have prednisolone administered starting 24 hours prior to administration and continuing for 30 days post administration at appropriate dosage.

Policy Position

Onasemnogene abeparvovec (Zolgensma) may be considered medically necessary as a one-time infusion for individuals with SMA when ALL of the following criteria are met:

  • Individual is two (2) years of age or younger; and
  • If individual was born prematurely, they have reached full-term gestational age; and
  • Individual has evidence of hypotonia with delay in motor skills, poor head control, round shoulder posture, hypermobility of joints and/or other symptoms of SMA; and
  • Individual has diagnosis of SMA based on gene mutation analysis including ALL of the following:
    • Bi-allelic SMN1 mutations (deletion or point mutations); and
    • Two (2) copies of SMN2; and
  • Individual is not reliant on invasive ventilator support (may use non-invasive ventilator support for less than 16 hours a day eg. BiPAP); and
  • Individual has not been treated with medications for ongoing immunosuppressive therapy within the last three (3) months (eg. Corticosteroids, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, intravenous immunoglobulin, rituximab); and
  • Individual does not have ANY of the following clinically significant abnormal lab values:
    • Liver function levels (hepatic aminotransferases [AST and ALT] greater than or equal to 2 times upper limit of normal); and
    • Baseline anti-AAV9 antibodies greater than 1:50; and
    • Platelet count less than 150,000μL; and
    • Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) greater than 144U/L (3 times the upper limit of normal); and
    • Bilirubin  greater than or equal to 3.0 mg/dL; and
    • Creatinine greater than or equal to 1.8 mg/dL;and
  • Individual is not a participant or recent participant in SMA treatment clinical trial that may cause risk for gene transfer or treatment with onasemnogene abeparvovec, AVXS-101(Zolgensma).

Note: The safety and effectiveness of repeat administration of onasemnogene abeparvovec (Zolgensma) has not been evaluated. Therefore, coverage will be limited to once per lifetime.

Note: There is a lack of robust clinical evidence to support concomitant use of onasemnogene abeparvovec (Zolgensma) with other therapies for the treatment of SMA [e.g. Nusinersen (Spinraza)]. 

The use of onasemnogene abeparvovec (Zolgensma) for any other indication is considered experimental/investigational and therefore non-covered due to the lack of scientific evidence to support efficacy and safety.

 

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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.


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Place of Service: Inpatient/Outpatient

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



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.