ph-0282 - ph-0282 - Medical Policies

Last Review Date: 08/05/2019

Date of Origin: 07/26/2016

Dates Reviewed: 07/2016, 10/2016, 01/2017, 01/2018, 08/2018, 08/2019

1. Length of Authorization

Coverage will be provided for:

• Primary or secondary hypogonadism in males: 6 months initially and may be renewed annually thereafter
• Delayed puberty: 6 months and may be renewed once

2. Dosing Limits

A. Quantity Limit (max daily dose) [Pharmacy Benefit]:

• Testopel 75 mg implantable pellet: 6 pellets per 90 day supply

B. Max Units (per dose and over time) [Medical Benefit]:

• 6 billable units every 90 days

3. Initial Approval Criteria*

Coverage is provided in the following conditions:

• Prescribed by, or in consultation with, an endocrinologist or urologist; AND
• The patient will be receiving only one androgen or anabolic agent; AND

Primary or Secondary (hypogonadotropic) hypogonadism in males †

• Patient must not have breast or prostate cancer; AND
• Patient does not have an unevaluated prostate specific antigen (PSA) level of >4 ng/mL (>3 ng/mL in patients at high risk for prostate cancer); AND
• Patient is symptomatic; AND
  • Pre-treatment morning total testosterone of less than 300 ng/dL (or below lower limit of normal by the testing laboratory); OR
  • Pre-treatment free testosterone of less than 50 pg/mL (or below lower limit of normal by the testing laboratory); AND
• Not used for age-related/late-onset hypogonadism; AND
• Patient has had an inadequate response (or contraindication or intolerance) to a 3 or more month trial with intramuscular testosterone such as testosterone cypionate, testosterone enanthate, testosterone undecanoate, etc.

Delayed Puberty in males †

• Patient is at least 14 years old; AND
• Patient did not respond to psychological support for delayed puberty; AND
• Effect on bone maturation has been discussed with the patient and parent(s); AND
• Secondary causes of delayed puberty (e.g., hypothyroidism, hyperprolactinemia, etc.) have been addressed or ruled out; AND
• Bone maturation must be monitored by assessing bone age of the wrist and hand via x-ray examinations every 6 months to determine the rate of bone maturation and the effects of androgen therapy on the epiphyseal centers; AND
• Patient has had an inadequate response (or contraindication or intolerance) to a 3 or more month trial with intramuscular testosterone such as testosterone cypionate, testosterone enanthate, etc.

The patient has a diagnosis of gender identity disorder (GID) and ALL of the following:

     i.  The patient is an adult (18 years of age or older)

    AND

ii. The patient has received evaluation from TWO qualified mental health professionals who have independently assessed the patient and ALL of the following:

1. At least one of the evaluating professionals must have a doctoral degree (PhD, MD, Ed.B, D.Sc, D.S.W. or Psy.D) and be capable of adequately evaluating co-morbid psychiatric conditions

AND

2.  One evaluation should be from a person who has only had an evaluative role with the patient

                                 AND

                            3.  The evaluations document that the patient has demonstrated a knowledge and understanding of the expected                                        outcomes of cross-sex hormone treatment, as well as the medical and social risks and benefits

      AND

iii.  ONE of the following:

1. The patient does not suffer from psychiatric comorbidity that interferes with the diagnostic work-up or treatment 

                                  OR

                           2.  If the patient has significant medical or mental health issues present, they must be reasonably well controlled and noted in the medical documentation submitted

    AND

iv. For patients new to therapy, the patient has completed at least 12 continuous months of living in a congruent gender role with his/her gender identity (real life experience) prior to cross-sex hormone treatment (this should be noted in medical documentation submitted including start/end dates)

† FDA Approved Indication(s)

4. Renewal Criteria*

Coverage can be renewed based upon the following criteria:

• Patient continues to meet the criteria identified in section III; AND
• Absence of unacceptable toxicity from the drug. Examples of unacceptable toxicity include the following: hepatotoxicity, hepatitis, hepatic carcinoma, stroke, myocardial infarction, fluid/electrolyte disturbances, prostatic hypertrophy/carcinoma, polycythemia, venous thromboembolism, implant site infection and/or pellet extrusion, etc.; AND
• Patient’s testosterone levels (within the preceding 28 days) do not exceed the upper limit of the normal range for the testing laboratory (generally mid-range is targeted); AND

Primary or secondary hypogonadism

• Patient has an improvement in signs and symptoms; AND
• Patient has not had a PSA increase of > 1.4 ng/mL above baseline

Delayed puberty

• Patient is continuing to be monitored for bone maturation (refer to initial criteria); AND
• Patient continues to require testosterone supplementation in order to complete development of secondary sexual characteristics (i.e. patient has not progressed spontaneously through puberty which may occur in patients with constitutional delay of puberty); AND
• Testopel therapy has not exceeded a total of 12 months in duration

*Note: compounded testosterone products are not covered by this policy

5. Dosage/Administration

Note:

• Schedule III (CIII) controlled substance
• Each pellet contains 75 mg of testosterone
• Adequate effect of the pellets ordinarily continues for three to four months, sometimes as long as six months.
  • It has been found that approximately one-third of the material is absorbed in the first month, one-fourth in the second month and one-sixth in the third month.
• The number of pellets to be implanted depends upon the minimal daily requirements of testosterone propionate determined by a gradual reduction of the amount administered parenterally.
  • The usual dosage is as follows: implant two 75 mg pellets for each 25 mg testosterone propionate required weekly. (Thus when a patient requires injections of 75 mg per week, it is usually necessary to implant 450 mg (6 pellets). With injections of 50 mg per week, implantation of 300 mg (4 pellets) may suffice for approximately three months.)

6. Billing Code/Availability Information

HCPCS Code:

• S0189 – testosterone pellet, 75 mg injection; 1 billable unit = 75 mg (Not payable by Medicare)
• J3490 – Unclassified drugs

NDC:

• Testopel 75 mg: 66887-0004-xx

7. References

1. Testopel [package insert]. Malvern, PA; Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.; August 2018. Accessed June 2019.
2. Bhasin S, Cunningham GR, Hayes FJ et al. Testosterone therapy in adult men with androgen deficiency syndromes: an endocrine society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2006; 91: 1995–2010.
3. Bhasin S, Brito JP, Cunningham GR, et al. Testosterone Therapy in Men With Hypogonadism: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab May 2018; vol 103; 5: 1715-1744.
4. Richman RA, Kirsch LR. Testosterone treatment in adolescent boys with constitutional delay in growth and development. N Engl J Med. 1988;319(24):1563.
5. First Coast Service Options, Inc. Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Testosterone pellets (Testopel®) (L33412). Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Inc. Updated on 7/01/2014 with effective date 10/01/2015. Accessed June 2019.
6. Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC. Local Coverage Article: Testopel Coverage (A55056). Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Inc. Updated on 12/08/2016 with effective date 07/12/2016. Accessed June 2019.
7. Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC. Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Treatment of Males with Low Testosterone (L36538). Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Inc. Updated on 08/23/2017 with effective date 10/01/2017. Accessed June 2019.
8. Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC. Local Coverage Article: Testopel Coverage (A55057). Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Inc. Updated on 12/08/2016 with effective date 07/12/2016. Accessed June 2019.
9. Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC. Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Treatment of Males with Low Testosterone (L36569). Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Inc. Updated on 08/23/2017 with effective date 10/01/2017. Accessed June 2019.

Appendix 1 – Covered Diagnosis Codes

Appendix 2 – Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

Medicare coverage for outpatient (Part B) drugs is outlined in the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual (Pub. 100-2), Chapter 15, §50 Drugs and Biologicals. In addition, National Coverage Determination (NCD) and Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) may exist and compliance with these policies is required where applicable. They can be found at: http://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/search/advanced-search.aspx. Additional indications may be covered at the discretion of the health plan.

Medicare Part B Covered Diagnosis Codes (applicable to existing NCD/LCD):