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Medicare AdvantagePrior AuthHigh impact

Medicare Part B Step Therapy May Updates

Florida Blue·FL · Pulmonology, Rheumatology, Oncology +2 more·Medicare
Effective date
May 15, 2026
We identified it
Jun 16, 2026
Days to comply

Summary

Florida Blue Medicare updated its Part B Step Therapy program effective May 15, 2026, adding new non-preferred drugs and changing preferred status for medications in Asthma, Cancer, and Hemophilia categories. Providers must try preferred alternatives before prescribing non-preferred drugs or face coverage denials.

Action Required

Action needed
By May 15, 2026: Billing team must update prior authorization requirements for all listed non-preferred drug codes in asthma, autoimmune, cancer, gout, and hemophilia categories. Update EMR systems to prompt providers to try preferred alternatives first. Create step therapy workflow requiring documentation of preferred drug trials before prescribing non-preferred medications. Train clinical staff on new two-step requirements for Exdensur, Qfitlia, and Hympavzi. Claims for non-preferred drugs will be denied without proper step therapy documentation.

Affected Billing Codes

J0517
J2786
C9399
J3590
J2182
Q5103
J1745
Q5104
J1602
J0129
J9305
J9314
J9294
J9296
J9297
J9323
J9292
J9304
J9324
J9196
J9201
J9184
J9041
J9049
J9051
J9054
J9045
J9278
J9171
J9172
J9174
J9342
J9341
J9047
J2507
J7192
J7173
J7174
J7207
J7214
J7172
J7210
J7170
J7205
J7204
J7190
J7187
J7208
J7211
J7182
J7185