Medical Necessity Criteria for Welchol (Colesevelam)

Medical Necessity Criteria for Welchol (colesevelam) Background – The antilipidemics II drug class includes three types of medications that affect cholesterol levels: the fibric acid derivatives (gemfibrozil and fenofibrate), the bile acid sequestrants (cholestyramine, colesevelam, and colestipol), and prescription omega-3 fatty acids (Lovaza, formerly Omacor). After evaluating the relative clinical and cost effectiveness of the bile acid subclass, the DoD P&T Committee recommended that Welchol (colesevelam) be designated as non-formulary. This recommendation has been approved by the Director, TMA. Effective Date: 13 July 2011 Patients currently using Welchol (colesevelam) may wish to ask their doctor to consider a formulary alternative. Notes: * Active duty cost share always $0 in all points of service for all three tiers; active duty service members may not fill prescriptions for a non-formulary medication unless it is determined to be medically necessary. ** MTFs will be able to fill non-formulary requests for non-formulary medications only if both of the following conditions are met: 1) a MTF provider writes the prescription, and 2) medical necessity is established for the non-formulary medication. MTFs may (but are not required to) fill a prescription for a non-formulary medication written by a non-MTF provider to whom the patient was referred, as long as medical necessity has been established. Medical Necessity Criteria for Welchol (colesevelam)® 1. The formulary medication is contraindicated (e.g., due to hypersensitivity). 2. The patient has experienced or is likely to experience significant adverse effects with the formulary medication. 3. The formulary medication resulted in therapeutic failure. 4. The patient has a history of GI obstruction and requires treatment with a bile acid sequestrant. 5. The patient is pregnant and requires treatment with a bile acid sequestrant. Criteria recommended by the DoD Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee at the February 2011 meeting & approved by the Director, TMA on 9 May 2011. For more information, please see the DoD P & T Committee Minutes. www.tricare.mil is the official Web site of the TRICARE Management Activity, a component of the Military Health System Skyline 5, Suite 810, 5111 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3206 US Family Health Plan Pharmacy Program Medical Necessity Form for Welchol (colesevelam) This form applies to the US Family Health Plan Mail Order Pharmacy and the US Family Health Plan Retail Pharmacy programs. This form must be completed and signed by the prescriber. The formulary bile acid sequestrants (BAS) are cholestyramine/sucrose (Questran, generics), cholestyramine/aspartame (Questran Light, generics), and colestipol (Colestid, generics). Welchol (colesevelam) is non-formulary, but available to most beneficiaries at the non-formulary cost share. You do NOT need to complete this form in order for non-Active duty beneficiaries (spouses, dependents, and retirees) to obtain non-formulary medications at the non-formulary cost share. The purpose of this form is to provide information that will be used to determine if the use of a non- formulary medication is medically necessary. If a non-formulary medication is determined to be medically necessary, non-Active duty beneficiaries may obtain it at the formulary cost share. • The provider may call: 1-877-880-7007 or the completed form may be faxed to:1-617-562-5296 and • The patient may attach the completed form to the prescription and mail it to: ATTN: Pharmacy, 77 Warren St, Brighton, MA 02135 RETAIL MAIL ORDER Step Please complete patient and physician information (please print): Patient Name: Physician Name: 1 Address: Address: Sponsor ID # Phone #: Date of Birth: Secure Fax #: Step Please indicate which of the reasons below applies to each of the formulary bile acid sequestrants listed in the table, if applicable. You MUST supply a specific written clinical explanation for each formulary 2 medication in all cases. Formulary Medication Reason Clinical Explanation Cholestyramine powder for oral suspension 1 2 3 4 5 (Questran, Questran Light, Prevalite, generics) Colestipol tablets or granules for oral 1 2 3 4 5 suspension (Colestid, generics) 1. The formulary medication is contraindicated (e.g., due to hypersensitivity). 2. The patient has experienced or is likely to experience significant adverse effects with the formulary medication. 3. The formulary medication resulted in therapeutic failure. 4. The patient has a history of GI obstruction and requires treatment with a bile acid sequestrant. 5. The patient is pregnant and requires treatment with a bile acid sequestrant. Step I certify the above is correct and accurate to the best of my knowledge. Please sign and date: 3 Prescriber Signature Date Latest revision: September 28, 2011 .

Load more