Eculizumab (Soliris) and biosimilars (Bkemv, Epysqli) — coverage criteria
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Policy governing medical necessity criteria, prior authorization, and continued use for eculizumab (Soliris) and biosimilars (Bkemv, Epijkstra) across covered lines of business; affects providers prescribing these agents for PNH, aHUS, gMG, NMOSD, and other indications for Health Net/Centene products.
Added newly approved biosimilar Bkemv.
Added newly approved biosimilar Epysqli and updated its FDA indication to include adult patients with gMG who are AChR antibody positive.
Updated list of therapies that Soliris/Bkemv/Epijkstra should not be prescribed concurrently with, adding multiple products including Rystiggo, Vyvgart Hytrulo, Zilbrysq, Fabhalta, Ultomiris, and later PiaSky.
Revised continued approval duration from 6 to 12 months for all indications.
For gMG, clarified that the required immunosuppressive therapy should be non-steroidal.
Coverage Criteria and Clinical Rules
Initial Therapy — PNH
Covered when ALL of the following are met:
Approval duration: 6 months
Initial Therapy — aHUS
Covered when ALL of the following are met:
Additional doses may be approved during concomitant plasmapheresis/plasma exchange/FFP; Approval duration: 6 months
Initial Therapy — gMG
Covered when ALL of the following are met:
Approval duration: 6 months
Initial Therapy — NMOSD
Covered when ALL of the following are met:
Approval duration: 6 months
Continued Therapy
Criteria for continued therapy and renewal logic:
Approval duration for continued therapy: 12 months
Approval duration: 12 months
Other Indications / Off-label handling
Handling of other/ off‑label indications and formulary considerations:
If the drug label has changed within the last 6 months and this policy is not updated, refer to the specified formulary/non‑formulary policies.
Covered indications (listed in document)
Covered indications listed in the policy (coverage requires meeting the indication‑specific criteria elsewhere in this document):
Dosing regimens and indication‑specific requirements are provided in the Dosage and Administration and Initial/Continued criteria sections.
Dose adjustment during plasmapheresis/IVIg
Supplemental dosing guidance during extracorporeal therapies or frequent IVIg:
See Appendix E and the detailed table for per‑intervention mg amounts and timing.
Coverage updates and restrictions
Recent coverage updates, restrictions, and utilization management clarifications:
Applies to continued therapy and continuity of care allowances, including for biosimilars.
Clarified in 3Q 2025 review.
Coverage is NOT authorized for the following diagnoses: STEC-HUS (Shiga toxin–producing E. coli–associated HUS); antiphospholipid syndrome (ICD-10: D68.61); and unspecified nephritic syndrome with other morphologic changes (ICD-10: N0S.8). In addition, uses that are non‑FDA approved and are not addressed by this policy are excluded unless the request includes sufficient documentation of efficacy and safety consistent with the applicable off‑label use policies (CP.CPA.09, HIM.PA.154, CP PMN.53) or other evidence-of-coverage documents.
The policy considers certain indications investigational and therefore excluded from coverage due to lack of conclusive, randomized controlled trial evidence. Examples called out in the policy include unspecified nephritic syndrome with other morphologic changes; when an indication is considered investigational, conventional therapies (for example, immunosuppression such as prednisone or mycophenolate mofetil) are listed as alternatives. Requests for non‑FDA indications will be handled per the off‑label use policies referenced above and may be denied if supporting evidence is insufficient.
The policy includes explicit restrictions on concurrent therapy: eculizumab (Soliris) and its biosimilars should not be prescribed concurrently with a growing list of targeted therapies across indications (examples include Ultomiris, Fabhalta, Rystiggo, Vyvgart/Vyvgart Hytrulo, Zilbrysq, PiaSky and others). These restrictions have evolved over time — earlier reviews first added Ultomiris to the prohibition for PNH and aHUS and later updates expanded the list to include additional agents and biosimilars. Providers should note limited exceptions for brief cross‑titration periods where specified in the criteria.
Specific uses that are not authorized include STEC-HUS and other indications the policy designates as investigational. The policy further requires supplemental dosing in the setting of extracorporeal therapies or frequent IVIg — for aHUS, gMG, and NMOSD, supplemental eculizumab doses are required when plasmapheresis, plasma exchange or fresh frozen plasma infusions are given. Where an indication is considered investigational, alternative, evidence‑based therapies are recommended.
Uses listed as investigational/not covered are those lacking conclusive randomized controlled trial data in the body of evidence. The policy explicitly states that Soliris/Bkemv/Epysqli for certain indications (for example, unspecified nephritic syndrome with other morphologic changes) is considered investigational; such requests are managed according to off‑label policies and may be denied when evidence is insufficient.
Policy history documents prior restrictions on concurrent use: early updates prohibited concurrent prescribing with Ultomiris for PNH and aHUS, and subsequent reviews expanded the prohibited list and clarified cross‑titration exceptions. Recent reviews also added biosimilars (Bkemv, Epysqli) to continuity‑of‑care and concurrent‑use language and adjusted billing code references; providers should review the concurrently prohibited agents when submitting prior authorization requests.
Codes, Thresholds, and Dose Notes
| No codes listed |
| D68.61 | Antiphospholipid syndrome |
| N0S.8 | Unspecified nephritic syndrome with other morphologic changes |
| J1299 | Injection, eculizumab, 2 mg |
| Q5151 | Injection, eculizumab-aagh (Epysqli) biosimilar, 2 mg |
| Q5152 | Injection, eculizumab-aeeb (Bkemv) biosimilar, 2 mg |
| Q5139 | HCPCS code previously added then removed per later update |
| J1300 | HCPCS code removed per update |
| J3590 | Code removed per earlier update |
| C9399 | Code removed per earlier update |
Provider Actions, Prior Authorization, and Billing
Prior Authorization Required
Prior authorization is required. Provider must submit clinical documentation (office chart notes, lab results, serologic test results, MG-ADL or EDSS scores, prior therapy records, and other relevant information) to support that the member meets all approval criteria. Refer to formulary and off‑label use policies for line-of-business specifics: CP.CPA.190 (commercial), HIM.PA.154 / HIM.PA.103 (health insurance marketplace), and CP.PMN.255 / CP.PMN.16 / CP.PMN.53 (Medicaid) as applicable.
- Prior authorization required with supporting documentation (office notes, labs, serology, baseline scores).
- Refer to formulary/non‑formulary/off‑label policies for coverage determination per line of business: CP.CPA.190, HIM.PA.154, HIM.PA.103, CP.PMN.255, CP.PMN.16, CP.PMN.53.
Explicit Noncoverage
Requests for the following diagnoses/uses are not authorized under this policy: STEC‑HUS; antiphospholipid syndrome (D68.61); unspecified nephritic syndrome with other morphologic changes (N0S.8); and other non‑FDA indications not addressed in this policy unless sufficient documentation per off‑label policies or evidence of coverage is provided.
- Explicit noncoverage includes: STEC‑HUS; Antiphospholipid syndrome (D68.61); Unspecified nephritic syndrome with other morphologic changes (N0S.8).
- Non‑FDA approved indications are not covered unless supported by off‑label policy documentation (see CP.CPA.09 / HIM.PA.154 / CP.PMN.53 or evidence of coverage documents).
Vaccination and REMS Documentation
Because these agents are available only through a REMS for risk of meningococcal infection, document meningococcal vaccination status and REMS enrollment in the prior authorization request. Patients should be vaccinated at least 2 weeks before the first dose and revaccinated per current guidelines; monitor and document counseling about signs of meningococcal infection and emergency evaluation plans.
- Document meningococcal vaccination dates and manufacturer where available.
- Document REMS enrollment and that patient counseling/monitoring plans were provided.
- Vaccinate at least 2 weeks prior to first dose and follow ACIP guidance for revaccination.
Coding and Billing Documentation Note
Providers should reference current coding guidance when submitting claims. The policy lists HCPCS/CPT changes historically for information only; confirm up‑to‑date HCPCS/CPT/NDC codes prior to billing.
Step Therapy Requirements
Step therapy requirements apply per indication. For gMG: diagnosis and baseline MG‑ADL ≥6, positive anti‑AChR antibodies, prescribed by or in consultation with a neurologist, age criteria, and failure of a corticosteroid (unless contraindicated) and at least one non‑steroidal immunosuppressive therapy as required by the current criteria. For NMOSD: diagnosis, positive anti‑AQP4 antibodies or documented relapse history per criteria, prescribed by or in consultation with a neurologist, age criteria, and failure of rituximab (preferred biosimilars listed) unless contraindicated. Note: for Illinois HIM requests, step therapy requirements do not apply as of 1/1/2026 per IL HB 5395.
- gMG step requirements: diagnosis of gMG, neurologist involvement, age per criteria, MG‑ADL ≥6, positive anti‑AChR, failure of corticosteroid, and required non‑steroidal immunosuppressive therapy.
- NMOSD step requirements: diagnosis of NMOSD, neurologist involvement, age ≥18, positive anti‑AQP4 or qualifying relapse history, failure of rituximab (preferred products: Ruxience, Truxima, others) unless contraindicated.
- Illinois HIM exception: step therapy requirements waived effective 01/01/2026 per IL HB 5395.
Therapeutic Alternatives / Sequencing
Therapeutic alternatives and sequencing should be documented in the PA request. Preferred alternatives include corticosteroids, cholinesterase inhibitors, immunosuppressants (azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, cyclosporine), and rituximab products (Rituxan and biosimilars Ruxience, Truxima, Riabni, etc.) where indicated. Prior authorization may be required for rituximab products.
- List of alternatives commonly considered: corticosteroids (prednisone, methylprednisolone), cholinesterase inhibitors (pyridostigmine), immunosuppressants (azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, cyclosporine).
- Rituximab and biosimilars (Rituxan, Ruxience, Truxima, Riabni) are therapeutic alternatives for NMOSD and may require prior authorization.
- Document prior trials, doses, durations, and reasons for failure or intolerance to alternatives.
Background and Clinical Context
Eculizumab and biosimilars are complement C5 inhibitors used to reduce intravascular hemolysis in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and to inhibit complement‑mediated thrombotic microangiopathy in atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). They are also approved for neurologic autoimmune conditions in selected, antibody‑positive patients — specifically generalized myasthenia gravis (AChR antibody positive) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (AQP4‑IgG seropositive). The policy reflects this mechanism and clinical context and ties coverage to indication‑specific diagnostic and laboratory criteria (for example, flow cytometry for PNH, platelet count and LDH for aHUS, anti‑AChR or anti‑AQP4 antibody testing and functional scores for neurologic indications), REMS‑related vaccination requirements, and supplemental dosing rules when extracorporeal therapies or IVIg are used.
Definitions and Abbreviations
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