Highmark Commercial Medical Policy - Delaware |
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 circumstances may warrant individual consideration, based on review of applicable medical records.
Drugs addressed in this policy include injectable testosterone products categorized as androgens, which include:
Testosterone injections may be considered medically necessary in males when the following criteria are met:
Testosterone injections may be considered medically necessary for palliative treatment in females with metastatic breast cancer (testosterone enanthate or testosterone cypionate). Testosterone injections may be considered medically necessary for transgender individuals who meet ALL the following:
Testosterone injections not meeting the above criteria, or for any other indications are considered not medically necessary.
The administration of testosterone androgens 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.
11/2015, Clinical Criteria Established for Testosterone Androgens Facility application Added.
This policy is intended to document those medical guidelines used by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware for the purpose of coverage and reimbursement determinations under Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware health benefit plans. These guidelines are appropriate for the majority of individuals with a particular disease, illness, or condition; however, each person's unique clinical circumstances may warrant individual consideration, based on review of applicable medical records. 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:
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 are designed to supplement the terms of a member's contract. The member's contract defines the benefits available; therefore, medical policies should not be construed as overriding specific contract language. In the event of conflict, the contract shall govern. Medical policies do not constitute medical advice, nor the practice of medicine. Application of a medical policy to determine coverage in an individual instance is not intended and shall not be construed to supercede the professional judgment of a treating provider. In all situations, the treating provider must use his/her professional judgment to provide care he/she believes to be in the best interest of the patient, and the provider and patient remain responsible for all treatment decisions. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware retains the right to review and update its medical policy guidelines at its sole discretion. These guidelines are the proprietary information of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware. Any sale, copying or dissemination of the medical policies is prohibited; however, limited copying of medical policies is permitted for individual use. |