Leuprolide Suspension (Eligard®)
IMPORTANT REMINDER
We develop Medical Policies to provide guidance to Members and Providers. This Medical Policy relates only to the services or supplies described in it. The existence of a Medical Policy is not an authorization, certification, explanation of benefits or a contract for the service (or supply) that is referenced in the Medical Policy. For a determination of the benefits that a Member is entitled to receive under his or her health plan, the Member's health plan must be reviewed. If there is a conflict between the medical policy and a health plan or government program (e.g., TennCare), the express terms of the health plan or government program will govern.
POLICY
I. INDICATIONS
The indications below including FDA-approved indications and compendial uses are considered a covered benefit provided that all the approval criteria are met and the member has no exclusions to the prescribed therapy.
A. FDA-Approved Indication
Palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer
B. Compendial Uses
1. Prostate cancer
2. Recurrent androgen receptor positive salivary gland tumors
3. Gender Dysphoria (also known as transgender and gender diverse (TGD) persons)
All other indications are considered experimental/investigational and not medically necessary.
II. PRESCRIBER SPECIALTIES
For gender dysphoria, the medication must be prescribed by or in consultation with a provider specialized in the care of transgender youth (e.g., pediatric endocrinologist, family or internal medicine physician, obstetrician-gynecologist) that has collaborated care with a mental health provider for members less than 18 years of age.
III. CRITERIA FOR INITIAL APPROVAL
A. Prostate cancer
Authorization of 12 months may be granted for treatment of prostate cancer.
B. Gender dysphoria
*Individual is age 18 or older or the individual is less than age 18 as permissive under applicable law
1. Authorization of 12 months may be granted for pubertal hormonal suppression in an adolescent member when all of the following criteria are met:
i. The member has a diagnosis of gender dysphoria.
ii. The member is able to make an informed decision to engage in treatment.
iii. The member has reached Tanner stage 2 of puberty or greater.
iv. The member’s comorbid conditions are reasonably controlled.
v. The member has been educated on any contraindications and side effects to therapy.
vi. The member has been informed of fertility preservation options.
2. Authorization of 12 months may be granted for gender transition when all of the following criteria are met:
i. The member has a diagnosis of gender dysphoria.
ii. The member is able to make an informed decision to engage in treatment.
iii. The member will receive the requested medication concomitantly with gender-affirming hormones.
iv. The member’s comorbid conditions are reasonably controlled.
v. The member has been educated on any contraindications and side effects to therapy.
vi. The member has been informed of fertility preservation options.
C. Salivary gland tumors
Authorization of 12 months may be granted for treatment of recurrent salivary gland tumors as a single agent when the tumor is androgen receptor positive.
IV. CONTINUATION OF THERAPY
A. Salivary gland tumors
Authorization of 12 months may be granted for continued treatment of salivary gland tumors in members requesting reauthorization who are experiencing clinical benefit to therapy and who have not experienced an unacceptable toxicity.
B. Prostate cancer
Authorization of 12 months may be granted for continued treatment of prostate cancer in members requesting reauthorization who are experiencing clinical benefit to therapy (e.g., serum testosterone less than 50 ng/dL) and who have not experienced an unacceptable toxicity.
C. Gender Dysphoria
*Individual is age 18 or older or the individual is less than age 18 as permissive under applicable law
1. Authorization of 12 months may be granted for continued treatment for pubertal hormonal suppression in adolescent members requesting reauthorization when all of the following criteria are met:
i. The member has a diagnosis of gender dysphoria.
ii. The member is able to make an informed decision to engage in treatment.
iii. The member has previously reached Tanner stage 2 of puberty or greater.
iv. The member’s comorbid conditions are reasonably controlled.
v. The member has been educated on any contraindications and side effects to therapy.
vi. Before the start of therapy, the member has been informed of fertility preservation options.
2. Authorization of 12 months may be granted for continued treatment for gender transition in members requesting reauthorization when all of the following criteria are met:
i. The member has a diagnosis of gender dysphoria.
ii. The member is able to make an informed decision to engage in treatment.
iii. The member will receive the requested medication concomitantly with gender-affirming hormones.
iv. The member’s comorbid conditions are reasonably controlled.
v. The member has been educated on any contraindications and side effects to therapy.
vi. Before the start of therapy, the member has been informed of fertility preservation options.
V. OTHER
Per state regulatory guidelines around gender dysphoria, age restrictions may apply.
APPLICABLE TENNESSEE STATE MANDATE REQUIREMENTS
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee’s Medical Policy complies with Tennessee Code Annotated Section 56-7-2352 regarding coverage of off-label indications of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drugs when the off-label use is recognized in one of the statutorily recognized standard reference compendia or in the published peer-reviewed medical literature.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For appropriate chemotherapy regimens, dosage information, contraindications, precautions, warnings, and monitoring information, please refer to one of the standard reference compendia (e.g., the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) published by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network®, Drugdex Evaluations of Micromedex Solutions at Truven Health, or The American Hospital Formulary Service Drug Information).
REFERENCES
1. Eligard [package insert]. Fort Collins, CO: Tolmar Pharmaceuticals; April 2019.
2. The NCCN Drugs & Biologics Compendium® © 2023 National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. http://www.nccn.org. Accessed February 15, 2023.
3. Hembree WC, Cohen-Kettenis PT, Gooren L, et al. Endocrine Treatment of Gender-Dysphoric/Gender-Incongruent Persons: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2017:102(11):3869–3903.
4. Gender Identity Research and Education Society. Guidance for GPs and other clinicians on the treatment of gender variant people. UK Department of Health. Published March 10, 2008.
5. Standards of care for the health of transsexual, transgender, and gender-nonconforming people, 8th version. ©2022 World Professional Association for Transgender Health. Available at http://www.wpath.org.
6. Mahfouda S, Moore JK, Siafarikas A, et al. Puberty Suppression in Transgender Children and Adolescents. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2017; 5: 816-26.
7. Health Care for Transgender and Gender Diverse Individuals. ©2021 The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Available at: https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2021/03/health-care-for-transgender-and-gender-diverse-individuals.
ORIGINAL EFFECTIVE DATE: 5/1/2004
MOST RECENT REVIEW DATE: 10/1/2024
ID_CHS
Policies included in the Medical Policy Manual are not intended to certify coverage availability. They are medical determinations about a particular technology, service, drug, etc. While a policy or technology may be medically necessary, it could be excluded in a member's benefit plan. Please check with the appropriate claims department to determine if the service in question is a covered service under a particular benefit plan. Use of the Medical Policy Manual is not intended to replace independent medical judgment for treatment of individuals. The content on this Web site is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice in any way. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider if you have questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.
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