PolicyChanges tracks payer policy changes for medical practices and tells you what to do before they take effect.

Create a free accountPolicy Monitoring is free. No card required.
← Back to list
AetnaCommercial · Prior Auth · Newsletter · Oncology, Hematology, OB-GYN +3 moreHigh impact

OfficeLink Updates - October 2026 notices and reminders (PDF)

Effective date
Jan 1, 2027
Identified
Sep 24, 2026

Summary

Already effective September 1 and October 1, 2026, Aetna requires precertification for drugs including Lytenava, Tudriqev, Genglycos, Pasatru, Zanvastro, and Elzonris, and requires Site of Care review for Zimrixby, Jobevne, and Avzivi. Precertification is no longer required for commercial members for OrthoVisc, Zarxio, several bortezomib products, and Fusilev, and it is no longer required for Medicare for several bortezomib products and Fusilev. Effective January 1, 2027, trauma response charges reported with revenue codes 0681 through 0684 will be denied unless a paid HCPCS code G0390 and a paid qualifying ambulance transport charge are billed on the same date of service.

Get alerts when payers change rules like this one

We check Aetna and other payers every day and email you when a change matches your specialty and state.

Get Aetna alertsPolicy Monitoring is free. No card required.

What to do

Action · 7 steps
01Already effective September 1 and October 1, 2026: For drugs that now require precertification or Site of Care review, submit requests at least two weeks in advance and include the actual date of service.
02Submit through the Aetna provider portal on Availity, or through your EMR if it is set up for electronic precertification requests.
03Use the Search by CPT code function on the Precertification Lists page to check whether a code requires precertification.
04Submit specialty drug requests for commercial or Medicare members through Novologix on Availity.
05Effective January 1, 2027: Billing team must bill trauma response revenue codes 0681, 0682, 0683, or 0684 with a paid G0390 and a qualifying ambulance transport service billed and paid on the same date of service, and all services must support the documented trauma activation event.
06Review billing practices and coding workflows so claims for CPT 81595 with 93505, and CPT 0540U with 50200, 50205, 50542, or 93505, are submitted in line with the reimbursement requirements, since those combinations will be denied as incidental on the same date of service.
07Providers: if a drug moves from the medical benefit to the pharmacy benefit, you may need to issue a prescription to an in-network specialty pharmacy, or submit a new PA if you transition the patient to a preferred alternative under the medical benefit.

Codes mentioned

J3490J3590C9399J9269Q5160J9999J7324Q5101J9046J9049J0641J9041J9048J9011Q5110J9205J2802J9248J9039J9246J2783J9266J9021J7355J9184J7190C9310J9072J930193580G03908159593505502005020550542

Original notice

OfficeLink Updates - October 2026 notices and reminders (PDF)
aetna.com · Always check the source before changing claims.
View original ↗

Related policy hubs

Summaries are AI-assisted. Always confirm against the original payer notice.

What is PolicyChanges

One workspace for payer rules, prior auth, coding and compliance

Medical practices use PolicyChanges to catch payer changes before they cause denials. Every change is summarized in plain English, with the codes involved, the date it takes effect and what to do.

Start freePolicy Monitoring is free. No card required.
Get alerts for changes like thisPolicy Monitoring is free. No card required.Create a free account