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Post by mnholdem on Dec 22, 2016 9:20:33 GMT -5
www.bcbsfl.com/DocumentLibrary/Providers/Content/MedGuide.pdfThe 2017 Formulary's (BCBS Florida) diabetes section begins on Page 22, but the insulin list is several pages into the section. Novolog is listed under "Rapid-Acting Insulin" and assigned a Tier 2. Afrezza is listed with Novolin in the "Fast-Acting Insulin" section as a Tier 3 with PA and Qty restrictions. Pardon me, Blue Cross Blue Shield, but isn't Fast-Acting considered slower than Rapid-Acting? Looks like they were suckered by the Novo reps... MannKind needs to start making some phone calls.
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Post by onemann on Dec 22, 2016 9:50:17 GMT -5
That's frustrating! We need to tweet this to Mike or send an email.
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Post by matt on Dec 22, 2016 9:50:25 GMT -5
You can't fault BCBS for that determination as they are just parroting what is on the labels. Afrezza is still stuck with the qualifier "Despite the faster absorption of insulin (PK) from Afrezza, the onset of activity (PD) was comparable to insulin lispro" and lispro is similar to Novolin. Novolog acts slightly faster than Novolin.
BCBS plans rely on the Blue Cross / Kaiser TEC (Technology Evaluation Center) for such opinions. The TEC is unusually fair and balanced, but they are not going to reach a conclusion that runs counter to an FDA approved label. Phone calls are not going to change this; new label copy will.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2016 10:00:46 GMT -5
You can't fault BCBS for that determination as they are just parroting what is on the labels. Afrezza is still stuck with the qualifier "Despite the faster absorption of insulin (PK) from Afrezza, the onset of activity (PD) was comparable to insulin lispro" and lispro is similar to Novolin. Novolog acts slightly faster than Novolin. BCBS plans rely on the Blue Cross / Kaiser TEC (Technology Evaluation Center) for such opinions. The TEC is unusually fair and balanced, but they are not going to reach a conclusion that runs counter to an FDA approved label. Phone calls are not going to change this; new label copy will. When determining onset of activity (PD) for Afrezza and analogues, are the start times the same; that is when Afrezza is inhaled and analogues injected? |
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Post by agedhippie on Dec 22, 2016 11:07:41 GMT -5
You can't fault BCBS for that determination as they are just parroting what is on the labels. Afrezza is still stuck with the qualifier "Despite the faster absorption of insulin (PK) from Afrezza, the onset of activity (PD) was comparable to insulin lispro" and lispro is similar to Novolin. Novolog acts slightly faster than Novolin. BCBS plans rely on the Blue Cross / Kaiser TEC (Technology Evaluation Center) for such opinions. The TEC is unusually fair and balanced, but they are not going to reach a conclusion that runs counter to an FDA approved label. Phone calls are not going to change this; new label copy will. That's not going to be the reason. The issue is that the Regular insulin class has the designation Fast-Acting hence Novolin R is in that class. Since Afrezza is also Regular insulin they have just carried over the classification. |
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Post by kc on Dec 22, 2016 20:50:17 GMT -5
That's frustrating! We need to tweet this to Mike or send an email. I would bet that they monitor all sources of information 24-7 especially formulary schedules. |
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