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CommercialPrior AuthHigh impact

[Ohio] Specialty pharmacy updates, March 2026

Anthem BCBS·OH · Oncology, Hematology, Allergy & Immunology +1 more·Pharmacy
Effective date
Jun 1, 2026
We identified it
May 3, 2026
Days to comply

Summary

Anthem is implementing new prior authorization requirements, quantity limits, and step therapy restrictions for 8 specialty pharmacy drugs effective June 1, 2026. Billing teams must obtain prior authorization for these medications before service dates and include NDC codes on claims to expedite processing. Patients currently receiving these drugs without authorization will require new prior auth requests going forward.

Action Required

Action needed
By May 31, 2026: Billing team must update claim submission workflows to require prior authorization for all specialty pharmacy drugs listed in this policy before processing claims with service dates on or after June 1, 2026. Specifically: (1) Implement prior auth requirement triggers in billing software for HCPCS codes C9399, J3590, J9999, J3490 and CPT codes J2786, J0517, J9271, J9024, J9022, J2182; (2) Flag the following drugs for mandatory prior auth review: Armlupeg, Blenrep, Exdensur, Jubereq, Osvyrti, Poherdy, Redemplo, and Voyxact; (3) Configure quantity limit alerts in the system for Exdensur, Forzinity, Gammagard Liquid ERC, Jubereq, Osvyrti, Redemplo, and Voyxact; (4) Set step therapy rules to route Keytruda Qlex and Tecentriq Hybreza as non-preferred requiring step therapy, while Keytruda and Tecentriq remain preferred; (5) Ensure all specialty pharmacy claims include NDC codes to expedite processing; (6) Direct providers to reference Clinical Criteria documents at https://www.anthem.com/ms/pharmacyinformation/clinicalcriteria/home.html for medical necessity documentation requirements. Failure to obtain prior authorization will result in claim denials. Route oncology use prior authorizations to Carelon Medical Benefits Management, Inc. for the 4 drugs marked with asterisks (Armlupeg, Blenrep, Poherdy, Jubereq, Osvyrti).

Affected Billing Codes

C9399
J3590
J9999
J3490
J2786
J0517
J9271
J9024
J9022
J2182