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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerPolicy UpdatesReimbursement/Payment PolicyCommunity Health Choice HCCAD Policy Update | Open…
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    CurrentCommunity Health ChoicePolicy N/A

    Separate Reimbursement of Certain Inpatient High-Cost Drug and Biologics (HCCADs)

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    This policy explains when certain high-cost drugs and biologics administered during inpatient care may be carved out of the APR-DRG payment and billed separately on an outpatient claim. It applies to Community Health Choice fee-for-service and managed care providers.

    Policy Summary
    PayerCommunity Health Choice
    PolicySeparate Reimbursement of Certain Inpatient High-Cost Drug and Biologics (HCCADs)
    Policy CodePolicy N/A
    Change TypeRevised policy
    Effective DateJune 2, 2025
    Next Review DateN/A
    Key ActionSubmit a listed HCCAD on an outpatient claim for separate reimbursement instead of treating it as included in the APR-DRG payment.
    SourceLink
    POLICY UPDATE CHANGES

    Certain HHSC-approved inpatient high-cost drugs and biologics are being carved out of the APR-DRG and made eligible for separate reimbursement.

    14High-cost drugs and biologics listed for separate reimbursement
    2Delivery/payment programs covered
    $3M+Potential cost per dose
    APR-DRG carve-out

    OpenPayer is powered by Trek Health's payer performance platform. Trek continuously ingests, validates, and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data alongside payer policies and other commercial payer data to create a structured payer intelligence foundation. OpenPayer uses this foundation to deliver personalized search results, dynamically generated policy pages, and tailored policy monitoring based on each user's payers, specialties, billing codes, and areas of interest. The same intelligence powers broader payer performance workflows, including reimbursement benchmarking, contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and financial decision-making.

    Payment treatment

    Eligibility for Separate HCCAD Reimbursement

    Eligibility for Separate HCCAD Reimbursement

    Separate reimbursement is available only when the inpatient high-cost drug or biologic meets all of the following criteria.

    ALL of the following

    • The drug or biologic is approved by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to be carved out of the All-Patient Refined Diagnosis Related Group (APR-DRG).
    • The drug or biologic appears on the designated HCCAD list: HEMGENIX, ELEVIDYS, SKYSONA, LYFGENIA, ZYNTEGLO, ROCTAVIAN, ZOLGENSMA, CASGEVY, KYMRIAH, CARVYKTI, ABECMA, BREYANZI, TECARTUS, or YESCARTA.

      Eligible HCCADs may be billed on an outpatient claim for separate reimbursement.

    Designated HCCAD List

    HCCAD Listmixed
    HEMGENIXListed HCCAD drug or biologic
    ELEVIDYSListed HCCAD drug or biologic
    SKYSONAListed HCCAD drug or biologic
    LYFGENIAListed HCCAD drug or biologic
    ZYNTEGLOListed HCCAD drug or biologic
    ROCTAVIANListed HCCAD drug or biologic
    ZOLGENSMAListed HCCAD drug or biologic
    CASGEVYListed HCCAD drug or biologic
    KYMRIAHListed HCCAD drug or biologic
    CARVYKTIListed HCCAD drug or biologic
    1–10 of 14
    1/2

    Separate Billing Requirement

    Billing Rule

    Bill designated inpatient high-cost drugs separately

    For an HHSC-approved HCCAD that appears on the designated list, submit the drug or biologic on an outpatient claim for separate reimbursement. Do not treat the eligible item as included in the APR-DRG inpatient payment.

    • Applies to eligible HCCADs administered during inpatient care.
    • Separate reimbursement is available through an outpatient claim.
    • The policy applies to both fee-for-service and managed care.
    • Effective June 2, 2025.

    Key Terms

    HCCAD
    TermHCCAD
    DefinitionA drug or biologic that HHSC has approved to be carved out of the All-Patient Refined Diagnosis Related Group (APR-DRG).
    Billing treatmentAn approved HCCAD may be billed on an outpatient claim for separate reimbursement.
    Diagnosis Related Group (DRG)
    TermDiagnosis Related Group (DRG)
    DefinitionA payment grouping that reflects all average hospital costs associated with providing care for a patient's primary diagnosis and complications.
    Inpatient drugs and biologics
    Policy Summary
    PayerCommunity Health Choice
    PolicySeparate Reimbursement of Certain Inpatient High-Cost Drug and Biologics (HCCADs)
    Policy CodePolicy N/A
    Change TypeRevised policy
    Effective DateJune 2, 2025
    Next Review DateN/A
    Key ActionSubmit a listed HCCAD on an outpatient claim for separate reimbursement instead of treating it as included in the APR-DRG payment.
    SourceLink
    On This Page
    Eligibility for Separate HCCAD ReimbursementDesignated HCCAD ListSeparate Billing RequirementKey Terms
    Drugs and biologics administered in an inpatient setting are usually bundled into the DRG payment rather than reimbursed separately.
    APR-DRG
    TermAPR-DRG
    Full nameAll-Patient Refined Diagnosis Related Group.
    Payment methodologyThe payment methodology from which HHSC-approved high-cost drugs and biologics are carved out.