Sunflower Health Plan Ophthalmic Riboflavin (Photrexa, Photrexa Viscous) Form
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Photrexa® and Photrexa® Viscous are topical ophthalmic photoenhancers.
FDA Approved Indication(s)
Photrexa and Photrexa Viscous are indicated for use in corneal collagen cross-linking in
combination with the KXL™ System for the treatment of:
• Progressive keratoconus
• Corneal ectasia following refractive surgery
Policy/Criteria
Provider must submit documentation (such as office chart notes, lab results or other clinical
information) supporting that member has met all approval criteria.
It is the policy of health plans affiliated with Centene Corporation® that Photrexa and Photrexa
Viscous are medically necessary when the following criteria are met:
I. Initial Approval Criteria*
*Approval of the drug does not translate to an approval of the corneal cross linking procedure
A. Progressive Keratoconus and Corneal Ectasia (must meet all):
1. Diagnosis of one of the following (a or b):
a. Progressive keratoconus;
b. Corneal ectasia following refractive surgery;
2. Prescribed by or in consultation with an ophthalmologist;
3. Age ≥ 14 years;
4. Dose does not exceed one kit per eye.
Approval duration: 6 months (up to one kit per eye)
B. Other diagnoses/indications (must meet 1 or 2):
1. If this drug has recently (within the last 6 months) undergone a label change (e.g.,
newly approved indication, age expansion, new dosing regimen) that is not yet
reflected in this policy, refer to one of the following policies (a or b):
a. For drugs on the formulary (commercial, health insurance marketplace) or PDL
(Medicaid), the no coverage criteria policy for the relevant line of business:
CP.CPA.190 for commercial, HIM.PA.33 for health insurance marketplace, and
CP.PMN.255 for Medicaid; or
b. For drugs NOT on the formulary (commercial, health insurance marketplace) or
PDL (Medicaid), the non-formulary policy for the relevant line of business:
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CP.CPA.190 for commercial, HIM.PA.103 for health insurance marketplace, and
CP.PMN.16 for Medicaid; or
2. If the requested use (e.g., diagnosis, age, dosing regimen) is NOT specifically listed
under section III (Diagnoses/Indications for which coverage is NOT authorized) AND
criterion 1 above does not apply, refer to the off-label use policy for the relevant line
of business: CP.CPA.09 for commercial, HIM.PA.154 for health insurance
marketplace, and CP.PMN.53 for Medicaid.
II. Continued Therapy*
*Approval of the drug does not translate to an approval of the corneal cross linking procedure
A. Progressive Keratoconus and Corneal Ectasia (must meet all):
1. Member meets one of the following (a or b):
a. Currently receiving medication via Centene benefit or member has previously met
initial approval criteria;
b. Member is currently receiving medication and is enrolled in a state and product
with continuity of care regulations (refer to state specific addendums for
CC.PHARM.03A and CC.PHARM.03B);
2. At least 6 months have passed since member’s last collagen cross linking procedure;
3. Member is responding positively to therapy as evidenced by a reduction in diopters in
the treated eye(s);
4. If request is for a dose increase, new dose does not exceed one kit per eye.
Approval duration: 6 months (up to one kit per eye)
B. Other diagnoses/indications (must meet 1 or 2):
1. If this drug has recently (within the last 6 months) undergone a label change (e.g.,
newly approved indication, age expansion, new dosing regimen) that is not yet
reflected in this policy, refer to one of the following policies (a or b):
a. For drugs on the formulary (commercial, health insurance marketplace) or PDL
(Medicaid), the no coverage criteria policy for the relevant line of business:
CP.CPA.190 for commercial, HIM.PA.33 for health insurance marketplace, and
CP.PMN.255 for Medicaid; or
b. For drugs NOT on the formulary (commercial, health insurance marketplace) or
PDL (Medicaid), the non-formulary policy for the relevant line of business:
CP.CPA.190 for commercial, HIM.PA.103 for health insurance marketplace, and
CP.PMN.16 for Medicaid; or
2. If the requested use (e.g., diagnosis, age, dosing regimen) is NOT specifically listed
under section III (Diagnoses/Indications for which coverage is NOT authorized) AND
criterion 1 above does not apply, refer to the off-label use policy for the relevant line
of business: CP.CPA.09 for commercial, HIM.PA.154 for health insurance
marketplace, and CP.PMN.53 for Medicaid.
III. Diagnoses/Indications for which coverage is NOT authorized:
A. Non-FDA approved indications, which are not addressed in this policy, unless there is
sufficient documentation of efficacy and safety according to the off label use policies –
CP.CPA.09 for commercial, HIM.PA.154 for health insurance marketplace, and
CP.PMN.53 for Medicaid or evidence of coverage documents.
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IV. Appendices/General Information
Appendix A: Abbreviation/Acronym Key
FDA: Food and Drug Administration
Appendix B: Therapeutic Alternatives
Not applicable
Appendix C: Contraindications/Boxed Warnings
None reported
V. Dosage and Administration
Drug Name
Dosing Regimen
Riboflavin 5’-
phosphate in 20%
dextran ophthalmic
solution) 0.146% for
topical ophthalmic
use (Photrexa
Viscous)
Riboflavin 5’-
phosphate ophthalmic
solution) 0.146% for
topical ophthalmic
use (Photrexa)
Dosage and Administration, Section 2: Prescribing
Information:
• Debride the epithelium using standard aseptic
technique using topical anesthesia.
• Then instill 1 drop of Photrexa Viscous topically
on the eye every 2 minutes for 30 minutes.
• After 30 minutes, examine the eye under slit lamp
for presence of a yellow flare in the anterior
chamber. If flare is not detected, instill 1 drop of
Photrexa Viscous every 2 minutes for an
additional 2 to 3 drops and recheck for yellow
flare. Repeat as necessary.
• Once flare is observed, perform ultrasound
pachymetry. If corneal thickness is less than 400
microns, instill 2 drops of Photrexa every 5 to 10
seconds until the corneal thickness increases to at
least 400 microns.
Irradiation should not be performed unless this
400 micron threshold is met and the yellow flare
is seen.
•
Maximum
Dose
See dosing
regimen
VI. Product Availability
Cross-linking kit: containing the following components for use with the KXL® System:
• Riboflavin 5’-phosphate ophthalmic solution 0.146% for topical ophthalmic use
(Photrexa)
• Riboflavin 5’-phosphate in 20% dextran ophthalmic solution 0.146% for topical
ophthalmic use (Photrexa Viscous)
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VII.