Latest Review Date: December 2024

Category: Laboratory

POLICY:

Measurement of antidrug antibodies in an individual receiving treatment with a biologic agent, either alone or as a combination test, which includes the measurement of serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocking agent levels, is considered investigational.

Measurement of antibodies to drugs (including, but not limited to the following) in an individual receiving treatment with them, either alone or as a combination test, which includes serum drug levels, is considered investigational:

• Infliximab (Remicade)
• Adalimumab (Humira) 
• Vedolizumab (Entyvio)
• Ustekinumab (Stelara)

DESCRIPTION OF PROCEDURE OR SERVICE:

Biologic agents used to treat autoimmune diseases include infliximab, adalimumab, vedolizumab, and ustekinumab. Infliximab (Remicade) is an intravenous tumor necrosis factor α blocking agent approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn disease, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, plaque psoriasis, and ulcerative colitis. Adalimumab (Humira) is a subcutaneous tumor necrosis factor α inhibitor that is FDA approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis, ankylosing spondylitis, plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis in adults and those with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, hidradenitis suppurativa, and uveitis. Vedolizumab (Entyvio) is an intravenous integrin receptor antagonist that is FDA approved for treatment of ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease in adults. Ustekinumab (Stelara) is an intravenous and subcutaneous human interleukin-12 and -23 antagonist that is FDA approved for the treatment of Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis in adults, and psoriatic arthritis and plaque psoriasis in children and adults. Following the primary response to these medications, some patients become secondary nonresponders. The development of antidrug antibodies is considered a cause of this secondary nonresponse.

Infliximab, Adalimumab, Vedolizumab, and Ustekinumab in Autoimmune Diseases

Biologic agents (e.g. infliximab, adalimumab, vedolizumab, or ustekinumab) are used to treat multiple inflammatory conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis; inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis), ankylosing spondylitis, and plaque psoriasis. These agents are generally given to patients who fail conventional medical therapy, and they are typically highly effective for the induction and maintenance of clinical remission. However, not all patients respond, and a high proportion of patients lose response over time. It is estimated that one in three patients do not respond to induction therapy (primary nonresponse); further, among initial responders, response wanes over time in approximately 20% to 60% of patients (secondary nonresponse). The reasons for therapeutic failures remain a matter of debate but include accelerated drug clearance (pharmacokinetics) and neutralizing agent activity (pharmacodynamics) due to antidrug antibodies (ADA). Antidrug antibodies are also associated with injection-site reactions and acute infusion reactions and delayed hypersensitivity reactions.

Detection of Antidrug Antibodies

The detection and quantitative measurement of ADA is difficult, owing to drug interference and identifying when antibodies likely have a neutralizing effect. First-generation assays (i.e., enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays [ELISA]) can measure only ADA in the absence of detectable drug levels, due to the interference of the drug with the assay. Other techniques available for measuring antibodies include the radioimmunoassay method and, more recently, the homogenous mobility shift assay using high-performance liquid chromatography. Disadvantages of the radioimmunoassay method are associated with the complexity of the test and prolonged incubation time, along with safety concerns related to the handling of radioactive material. The homogenous mobility shift assay measures ADA when infliximab is present in serum. Studies evaluating the validation of results among different assays are lacking, making interstudy comparisons difficult. One retrospective study by Kopylov et al (2012), which evaluated 63 patients, demonstrated comparable diagnostic accuracy between two different ELISA methods in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (i.e., double-antigen ELISA and antihuman lambda chain-based ELISA). This study did not include an objective clinical and endoscopic scoring system for validation of results.

Treatment Options for Secondary Nonresponse to Biologic Agents

A diminished or suboptimal response to infliximab, adalimumab, vedolizumab, or ustekinumab can be managed in several ways: shortening the interval between doses, increasing the dose, switching to a different biologic agent (in patients who continue to have a loss of response after receiving the increased dose), or switching to a non-biologic agent.

KEY POINTS:

The most recent literature update was performed through September 19, 2024.

Summary of Evidence

For individuals who have rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or juvenile idiopathic arthritis; inflammatory bowel disease (eg, Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis); ankylosing spondylitis; or plaque psoriasis who receive evaluation for serum antibodies to infliximab, adalimumab, vedolizumab, or ustekinumab, the evidence includes multiple systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, and observational studies. Relevant outcomes are test validity, change in disease status, health status measures, quality of life, and treatment-related morbidity. Antibodies to biologic agents develop in a substantial proportion of treated patients and are believed to neutralize or enhance clearance of the drugs. Considerable evidence has demonstrated an association between antidrug antibodies and secondary nonresponse as well as injection-site and infusion-site reactions. The clinical usefulness of measuring antidrug antibodies hinges on whether test results inform management changes, thereby leading to improved outcomes, compared with management directed by symptoms, clinical assessment, and standard laboratory evaluation. Limited evidence has described management changes after measuring antidrug antibodies. A randomized controlled trial did not find a difference in relapse rates with therapeutic drug monitoring of inflximab using trough levels and antidrug antibodies compared to standard therapy without monitoring these levels. A small randomized controlled trial in patients with Crohn disease and other inflammatory diseases comparing antidrug antibody-informed management of relapse with standard dose escalation did not demonstrate improved outcomes with the antidrug antibody-informed approach. Additionally, many assays, some having significant limitations, have been used in studies; antidrug antibody threshold values that are informative for discriminating treatment responses have not been established. The evidence is insufficient to determine that the technology results in an improvement in the net health outcome.

Practice Guidelines and Position Statements

American College of Gastroenterology

In 2019, the American College of Gastroenterology published a guideline on ulcerative colitis (UC). The guideline stated: "In patients with moderately to severely active UC who are responders to anti-TNF therapy and now losing response, we suggest measuring serum drug levels and antibodies (if there is not a therapeutic level) to assess the reason for loss of response (conditional recommendation, very low quality of evidence)."

In 2018, the American College of Gastroenterology published a guideline on Crohn disease (CD). Although acknowledging that a detailed review of therapeutic drug monitoring was beyond the scope of the guideline, it stated: "If active CD is documented, then assessment of biologic drug levels and antidrug antibodies (therapeutic drug monitoring) should be considered."

American Gastroenterology Association Institute

In 2017, the American Gastroenterology Association Institute published guidelines on therapeutic drug monitoring in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The guidelines note that:

"In the presence of sufficient trough concentrations, results of antibody testing should not guide treatment decisions. If the trough concentration is low (below the suggested threshold, in patients with active IBD) and no anti-drug antibodies are present, then the index drug should be optimized using any of the following techniques: shortening the dosing interval and/or increasing the drug dose, and/or adding an immunomodulator agent. If there is no detectable drug (zero trough concentration) and high-titer anti-drug antibodies are present, then the patient should consider switching to a different drug within the class or to a different drug class. If there is no detectable drug and low-titer antibodies are present, then one can consider trying to optimize the index drug by shortening the dosing interval and/or increasing the drug dose, and/or adding an immunomodulator agent. Typically, optimizing the drug will be attempted before changing to a different drug within the class or switching to a new drug class, although some might opt to change to a different drug within the class or switch to a new drug class. It should be noted that the reporting of anti-drug antibodies is variable between commercial assays, with some assays being very sensitive for detecting very-low-titer antibodies of limited clinical significance. Uniform thresholds for clinically relevant antibody titers are lacking. At this time, it is unclear how antibodies affect drug efficacy when both active drug and antibodies are detected. In cases of low trough concentrations and low or high anti-drug antibodies, the evidence to clarify optimal management is lacking.”

The guidelines did not address therapeutic drug monitoring in patients treated with vedolizumab or ustekinumab.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

In 2016, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence issued guidance on therapeutic monitoring of tumor necrosis factor α inhibitors in the treatment of patients with CD. The Institute recommended that laboratories monitoring tumor necrosis factor α inhibitors in patients with CD who have lost response to the treatment should “work with clinicians to collect data through a prospective study, for local audit, or for submission to an existing registry.”

In 2019, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence issued guidance on therapeutic monitoring of tumor necrosis factor α inhibitors in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The Institute stated: "Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests for therapeutic monitoring of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha inhibitors (drug serum levels and antidrug antibodies) show promise but there is currently insufficient evidence to recommend their routine adoption in rheumatoid arthritis." It also recommended that "laboratories currently using ELISA tests for therapeutic monitoring of TNF-alpha inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis should do so as part of research and further data collection."

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations

Not applicable.

KEY WORDS:

Serum infliximab, antichimeric antibodies, antibodies to infliximab, serum adalimumab, antibodies to adalimumab, serum vedolizumab, antibodies to vedolizumab, Anser IFX, Anser ADA, Anser VDZ, Humira, Remicade, Entyvio, Anser UST, serum ustekinumab concentration, Stelara, antibodies to ustekinumab concentration, anti-drug, Procise ADL, Procise IFX

APPROVED BY GOVERNING BODIES:

Clinical laboratories may develop and validate tests in-house and market them as a laboratory service; laboratory-developed tests must meet the general regulatory standards of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments. Laboratories that offer laboratory-developed tests must be licensed by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments for high-complexity testing. To date, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has chosen not to require any regulatory review of this test.

Prometheus Laboratories, a College of American Pathologists-accredited lab under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, offers four non-radio-labeled, fluid-phase homogenous mobility shift assay tests: called Anser IFX (for infliximab), Anser ADA (for adalimumab), Anser VDZ (for vedolizumab), and Anser UST (for ustekinumab). The tests measure both serum drug concentrations and ADA. They are not based on an ELISA test, and can measure ADA in the presence of detectable drug levels, improving on a major limitation of the ELISA method.

BENEFIT APPLICATION:

Coverage is subject to member’s specific benefits. Group-specific policy will supersede this policy when applicable.

ITS: Home Policy provisions apply.

FEP:  Special benefit consideration may apply. Refer to member’s benefit plan.

CURRENT CODING:

CPT Codes:

REFERENCES:

1. Afif W, Loftus EV, Jr., Faubion WA et al. Clinical utility of measuring infliximab and human anti-chimeric antibody concentrations in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Am J Gastroenterol 2010; 105(5):1133-9.
2. Ara-Martin M, Pinto PH, Pascual-Salcedo D. Impact of immunogenicity on response to anti-TNF therapy in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis: results of the PREDIR study. J Dermatolog Treat. Nov 2017; 28(7):606-612.
3. Arstikyte I, Kapleryte G, Butrimiene I, et al. Influence of Immunogenicity on the Efficacy of Long-Term Treatment with TNF alpha Blockers in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Spondyloarthritis Patients. Biomed Res Int. 2015; 2015:604872.
4. Bendtzen K. Personalized medicine: theranostics (therapeutics diagnostics) essential for rational use of tumor necrosis factor-alpha antagonists. Discov Med. Apr 2013; 15(83):201-11.
5. Bouden S, Laadhar L, Soua J, et al. No Correlation between Anti-drug Antibodies and Therapeutic Response in Tunisian Patients with Chronic Inflammatory Diseases Treated by TNF Blockers. Curr Rheumatol Rev. 2024; 20(4): 435-443.
6. Castillo-Gallego C, Aydin SZ, Marzo-Ortega H. Clinical utility of the new ASAS criteria for spondyloarthritis and the disease activity score. Curr Rheumatol Rep. Oct 2011; 13(5):395-401.
7. Chanchlani N, Lin S, Bewshea C, et al. Mechanisms and management of loss of response to anti-TNF therapy for patients with Crohn's disease: 3-year data from the prospective, multicentre PANTS cohort study. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. Jun 2024; 9(6): 521-538. 
8. Cludts I, Spinelli FR, Morello F, et al. Anti-therapeutic antibodies and their clinical impact in patients treated with the TNF antagonist adalimumab. Cytokine. Aug 2017; 96:16-23.
9. Eser A, Primas C, Reinisch W. Drug monitoring of biologics in inflammatory bowel disease. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. Jul 2013; 29(4):391-396.
10. Feuerstein JD, Nguyen GC, Kupfer SS, et al. American Gastroenterological Association Institute Guideline on Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Gastroenterology. Sep 2017; 153(3): 827-834.
11. Frederiksen MT, Ainsworth MA, Brynskov J, et al. Antibodies against infliximab are associated with de novo development of antibodies to adalimumab and therapeutic failure in infliximab-to-adalimumab switchers with IBD. Inflamm Bowel Dis. Oct 2014; 20(10):1714-21.
12. Garces S, Antunes M, Benito-Garcia E, et al. A preliminary algorithm introducing immunogenicity assessment in the management of patients with RA receiving tumour necrosis factor inhibitor therapies. Ann Rheum Dis. Jun 2014; 73(6):1138-1143.
13. Garces S, Demengeot J, Benito-Garcia E. The immunogenicity of anti-TNF therapy in immune-mediated inflammatorydiseases: a systematic review of the literature with a meta-analysis. Ann Rheum Dis. Dec 2013; 72(12): 1947-55.
14. IOM (Institute of Medicine). 2011. Clinical Practice Guidelines We Can Trust. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
15. Jani M, Chinoy H, Warren RB, et al. Clinical utility of random anti-tumor necrosis factor drug-level testing and measurement of antidrug antibodies on the long-term treatment response in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheumatol. May 2015; 67(8):2011-9.
16. Khanna R, Sattin BD, Afif W, et al. Review article: a clinician's guide for therapeutic drug monitoring of infliximab in inflammatory bowel disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. Sep 2013; 38(5):447-459.
17. Kopylov U, Mazor Y, Yavzori M et al. Clinical utility of antihuman lambda chain-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) versus double antigen ELISA for the detection of anti-infliximab antibodies. Inflammatory bowel diseases 2012; 18(9):1628-33.
18. Lee LY, Sanderson JD, Irving PM. Anti-infliximab antibodies in inflammatory bowel disease: prevalence, infusion reactions, immunosuppression and response, a meta-analysis. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. Sep 2012; 24(9): 1078-85.
19. Lichtenstein GR, Loftus EV, Isaacs KL, et al. ACG Clinical Guideline: Management of Crohn's Disease in Adults. Am JGastroenterol. Apr 2018; 113(4): 481-517.
20. Lichtenstein GR. Comprehensive review: antitumor necrosis factor agents in inflammatory bowel disease and factors implicated in treatment response. Therap Adv Gastroenterol. Jul 2013; 6(4):269-293.
21. Lombardi G, Perego S, Sansoni V, et al. Anti-adalimumab antibodies in psoriasis: lack of clinical utility and laboratory evidence. BMJ Open. Dec 09 2016; 6(12): e011941.
22. Meroni PL, Valentini G, Ayala F, et al. New strategies to address the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors: A systematic analysis. Autoimmun Rev. Sep 2015; 14(9):812-29.
23. Nanda KS, Cheifetz AS, Moss AC. Impact of antibodies to infliximab on clinical outcomes and serum infliximab levels in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): a meta-analysis. The American journal of gastroenterology 2013; 108(1):40-7; quiz 48.
24. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Therapeutic monitoring of TNF-alpha inhibitors in Crohn's disease (LISA-TRACKER ELISA kits, IDKmonitor ELISA kits, and Promonitor ELISA kits) [DG22]. 2016;www.nice.org.uk/guidance/dg22/chapter/1-Recommendations.
25. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Therapeutic monitoring of TNF-alpha inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis [DG36]. 2019; www.nice.org.uk/guidance/dg36/chapter/1-Recommendations.
26. Pecoraro V, De Santis E, Melegari A, et al. The impact of immunogenicity of TNF alpha inhibitors in autoimmune inflammatory disease. A systematic review and meta-analysis. Autoimmun Rev. Jun 2017; 16(6):564-575.
27. Roblin X, Marotte H, Rinaudo M, et al. Association between pharmacokinetics of adalimumab and mucosal healing in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. Jan 2014; 12(1):80-84 e82.
28. Roblin X, Rinaudo M, Del Tedesco E, et al. Development of an algorithm incorporating pharmacokinetics of adalimumab in inflammatory bowel diseases. Am J Gastroenterol. Aug 2014; 109(8):1250-1256.
29. Rubin DT, Ananthakrishnan AN, Siegel CA, et al. ACG Clinical Guideline: Ulcerative Colitis in Adults. Am J Gastroenterol. Mar 2019; 114(3): 384-413.
30. Steenholdt C, Bendtzen K, Brynskov J et al. Cut-off levels and diagnostic accuracy of infliximab trough levels and anti-infliximab antibodies in Crohn's disease. Scand J Gastroenterol 2011; 46(3):310-8.
31. Steenholdt C, Brynskov J, Thomsen OO, et al. Individualised therapy is more cost-effective than dose intensification in patients with Crohn's disease who lose response to anti-TNF treatment: a randomised, controlled trial. Gut. Jun 2014; 63(6):919-927.
32. Syversen SW, Goll GL, Jorgensen KK, et al. Effect of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring vs Standard Therapy During Infliximab Induction on Disease Remission in Patients With Chronic Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. May 04 2021; 325(17): 1744-1754.
33. Tan M. Importance of defining loss of response before therapeutic drug monitoring. Gut. Mar 2015; 64(3): 516-7.
34. Thomas SS, Borazan N, Barroso N, et al. Comparative immunogenicity of TNF inhibitors: impact on clinical efficacy and tolerability in the management of autoimmune diseases. A systematic review and meta-analysis. BioDrugs. Aug 2015; 29(4):241-58.
35. van Gestel AM, Prevoo ML, van 't Hof MA, et al. Development and validation of the European League Against Rheumatism response criteria for rheumatoid arthritis. Comparison with the preliminary American College of Rheumatology and the World Health Organization/International League against Rheumatism Criteria. Arthritis Rheum. Jan 1996; 39(1):34-40.
36. Vande Casteele N, Gils A, Singh S, et al. Antibody response to infliximab and its impact on pharmacokinetics can be transient. Am J Gastroenterol. Jun 2013; 108(6):962-71.
37. White CM, Ip S, McPheeters M, et al. Using Existing Systematic Reviews to Replace De Novo Processes in Conducting Comparative Effectiveness Reviews Methods Guide for Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; 2009. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK47094/.

POLICY HISTORY:

Medical Policy Group, August 2012 (1): New policy adopted from MPP update.

Medical Policy Administration Committee, October 2012

Available for comment October 24 through December 10, 2012

Medical Policy Panel, September 2013

Medical Policy Group, September 2013 (1): Title changed to add “and Adalimumab;” “Measurement of antibodies to adalimumab in a patient receiving adalimumab, either alone or as a combination test which includes the measurement of serum adalimumab levels” added to the policy statement; considered investigational; update to Key Points and References related to infliximab with no change to policy statement

Medical Policy Administration Committee September 2013

Available for comment September 19 through November 2, 2013

Medical Policy Panel, October 2014

Medical Policy Group, October 2014 (1): No policy change. Update to Key Points and References.

Medical Policy Panel, November 2015

Medical Policy Group, November 2015 (3): 2015 Updates to Description, Key Points, Approved by Governing Bodies & References; no change to policy statement.

Medical Policy Panel, November 2016

Medical Policy Group, November 2016 (3): 2016 Updates to Key Points & References; no change to policy statement.

Medical Policy Panel, November 2017

Medical Policy Group, November 2017 (3): 2017 Updates to Description, Key Points & References; no change to policy statement.

Medical Policy Group, July 2018 (5): 2018 updated policy statement to clarify that Measurement of antibodies to vedolizumab is considered investigational.  This has always been considered investigational; Updated Key Points, Key Words: (serum vedolizumab, antibodies to vedolizumab, Anser VDZ, Entyvio), and References.

Medical Policy Administration Committee July 2018

Available for comment July 11 through August 24, 2018

Medical Policy Panel, November 2019

Medical Policy Group, December 2019 (9): 2019 Updates to Key Points, Description, References. No change to policy statement.

Medical Policy Group, June 2020 (9): Updated title of policy to match association. Changed from "Measurement of Serum Antibodies to Infliximab, Adalimumab, and Vedolizumab" to "Measurement of Serum Antibodies to Selected Biologic Agents". Added key words: Anser UST, serum ustekinumab concentration, Stelara, antibodies to ustekinumab concentration. No change to policy statement or content of policy.

Medical Policy Panel, November 2020

Medical Policy Group, November 2020 (9): 2020 Updates to Key Points, Description, References. Updated code section to include (use for PROMETHEUS Anser IFX) clarification with code 84999. Added statement to policy statement: “Measurement of antidrug antibodies in a patient receiving treatment with a biologic agent, either alone or as a combination test, which includes the measurement of serum TNF blocking agent level, is considered not medically necessary and investigational.” No change to policy statement intent or coverage stance. Added key word: anti-drug

Medical Policy Panel, November 2021

Medical Policy Group, November 2021 (9): 2021 Updates to Key Points, Description, References. Policy statement updated to remove “not medically necessary,” structure of policy statement condensed into bullet points for specific drugs included in policy for clarity, no change to policy intent.

Medical Policy Group, June 2022 (9): Added cpt codes 80145, 80230, 80280 to current coding. No change to policy intent.

Medical Policy Panel, November 2022

Medical Policy Group, November 2022 (9): 2022 Updates to Key Points, Description, References. No change to policy statement intent. Minor editorial refinement made, replaced the word “patient” with “individual.”

Medical Policy Panel, November 2023

Medical Policy Group, November 2023 (5): Updates to Description, Key Points, and Benefit Application. No change to Policy Statement.

Medical Policy Group, September 2024 (5): Quarterly Coding Update. Added CPT codes 0514U and 0515U to Current Coding section. Key Words updated to include: Procise ADL, Procise IFX. No change to Policy Statement.

Medical Policy Panel, November 2024

Medical Policy Group, December 2024 (5): Updates to Key Points and References. No change to Policy Statement.

This medical policy is not an authorization, certification, explanation of benefits, or a contract. Eligibility and benefits are determined on a case-by-case basis according to the terms of the member’s plan in effect as of the date services are rendered. All medical policies are based on (i) research of current medical literature and (ii) review of common medical practices in the treatment and diagnosis of disease as of the date hereof. Physicians and other providers are solely responsible for all aspects of medical care and treatment, including the type, quality, and levels of care and treatment.

This policy is intended to be used for adjudication of claims (including pre-admission certification, pre-determinations, and pre-procedure review) in Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s administration of plan contracts.

The plan does not approve or deny procedures, services, testing, or equipment for our members. Our decisions concern coverage only. The decision of whether or not to have a certain test, treatment or procedure is one made between the physician and his/her patient. The plan administers benefits based on the member’s contract and corporate medical policies. Physicians should always exercise their best medical judgment in providing the care they feel is most appropriate for their patients. Needed care should not be delayed or refused because of a coverage determination.

As a general rule, benefits are payable under health plans only in cases of medical necessity and only if services or supplies are not investigational, provided the customer group contracts have such coverage.

The following Association Technology Evaluation Criteria must be met for a service/supply to be considered for coverage:

1. The technology must have final approval from the appropriate government regulatory bodies;

2. The scientific evidence must permit conclusions concerning the effect of the technology on health outcomes;

3. The technology must improve the net health outcome;

4. The technology must be as beneficial as any established alternatives;

5. The improvement must be attainable outside the investigational setting.

Medical Necessity means that health care services (e.g., procedures, treatments, supplies, devices, equipment, facilities or drugs) that a physician, exercising prudent clinical judgment, would provide to a patient for the purpose of preventing, evaluating, diagnosing or treating an illness, injury or disease or its symptoms, and that are:

1. In accordance with generally accepted standards of medical practice; and

2. Clinically appropriate in terms of type, frequency, extent, site and duration and considered effective for the patient’s illness, injury or disease; and

3. Not primarily for the convenience of the patient, physician or other health care provider; and

4. Not more costly than an alternative service or sequence of services at least as likely to produce equivalent therapeutic or diagnostic results as to the diagnosis or treatment of that patient’s illness, injury or disease.