Blue Shield of California · Obesidad con una o más comorbilidades · Versión completa en inglés: /pa-letter/blue-shield-california--obesity-with-comorbidity/

Carta de PA para Blue Shield of California: Obesidad con una o más comorbilidades.

Plantilla defensible de carta para Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg) or Zepbound (tirzepatide). BMI 30 or higher, OR BMI 27 or higher with at least one weight-related comorbidity (T2D, hypertension, dyslipidemia, OSA). Documented six-month lifestyle intervention.

La carta misma está en inglés porque el revisor del plan la lee en inglés. La envuelve y la firma su clínico.

Plan
Blue Shield of California
Commercial / Medicare Advantage
Enviar a través de
Blue Shield provider portal or fax 1-888-697-8122
Tiempo de respuesta
5 business days
Plazo de apelación
180 days from denial notice
Cita de política: Blue Shield of California Medical Policy, Anti-Obesity Pharmacotherapy.
Nota del plan: Blue Shield CA has historically required BMI greater than or equal to 30, documented lifestyle intervention for at least six months and step therapy through phentermine where not contraindicated. Some Blue Shield Promise (Medi-Cal managed care) plans follow Medi-Cal PDL, which excludes GLP-1 for obesity indication entirely as of 2026.
Lo que MedImpact realmente requiere

Blue Shield of California contrata la administración del beneficio de farmacia a MedImpact, que adjudica esta PA. Los criterios siguientes provienen de la política clínica del PBM publicada públicamente. Cumpla cada uno antes de enviar.

  • Plan-affiliate dependent; criteria vary substantially across Blue Shield CA, Premera, Highmark and Medicaid MCO contracts
  • Common baseline: BMI greater than or equal to 30 (or 27 with comorbidity), six-month lifestyle intervention
  • Step therapy requirements vary, verify against your specific plan's criteria PDF, not generic MedImpact policy
  • Reauthorization terms plan-dependent (most annual)
  • Some Medi-Cal managed care plans under MedImpact exclude obesity-indication GLP-1 entirely (state PDL takes precedence)

La carta (copiar y editar)

Copie el cuerpo a continuación y péguelo en el portal de su clínico o procesador de textos. Reemplace cada marcador de posición entre [CORCHETES] con datos específicos del paciente antes de enviar. La carta es de su clínico al plan, firmada por su clínico.

Enviar esta página a mi médico
[Today's date]

Blue Shield of California
Prior Authorization Department
Submitted via: Blue Shield provider portal or fax 1-888-697-8122

Re: Prior Authorization Request, Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg) or Zepbound (tirzepatide)
Patient: [Patient full name]
Member ID: [Plan member ID]
Date of birth: [Patient DOB]
Group number: [Group number if applicable]
Prescriber: [Prescriber full name, NPI, DEA]
Prescriber contact: [Phone, fax, email]

To the Blue Shield of California Prior Authorization Reviewer,

I am the treating clinician for [Patient name]. I am writing to request prior authorization for Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg) or Zepbound (tirzepatide) for treatment of Obesity with one or more comorbidities (ICD-10: E66.01, E66.9, E66.811).

Clinical justification

Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg) is indicated by FDA labeling for chronic weight management in adults with obesity (BMI greater than or equal to 30) or overweight (BMI greater than or equal to 27) with at least one weight-related comorbid condition. Zepbound (tirzepatide) carries the same labeling. The STEP-1 trial (Wegovy) demonstrated mean weight loss of 14.9 percent at 68 weeks. The SURMOUNT-1 trial (Zepbound) demonstrated mean weight loss of 22.5 percent at 72 weeks. Both trials enrolled the same patient population this PA is requesting.

Patient-specific findings

  - [Insert current measurements: weight, height, BMI, blood pressure]
  - [Insert relevant lab values with dates: A1c, lipid panel, kidney function]
  - [Insert documentation of comorbidities with ICD-10]
  - [Insert documentation of prior treatment history, including any prior GLP-1 trials, anti-obesity medication trials or lifestyle intervention]

Criteria met per Blue Shield of California policy

This request meets the criteria set out in Blue Shield of California Medical Policy, Anti-Obesity Pharmacotherapy:

  - Current weight, height, BMI (within the past 30 days)
  - Comorbidity diagnosis with supporting ICD-10 (hypertension I10, dyslipidemia E78.x, T2D E11.x, OSA G47.33, NAFLD K76.0)
  - Six months of documented lifestyle intervention (dietitian visits, structured program participation, prior anti-obesity medication trials)
  - Failure or contraindication for plans that require step therapy through phentermine or orlistat
  - Treatment plan: target weight loss, continued behavioral support, monitoring schedule

Supporting evidence

The clinical case for Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg) or Zepbound (tirzepatide) in this indication is supported by the following registration trials and outcomes data:

  - STEP-1 (Wegovy in adults with obesity)
  - STEP-3 (Wegovy with intensive behavioral therapy)
  - SURMOUNT-1 (Zepbound in adults with obesity)
  - SURMOUNT-4 (Zepbound continuation versus withdrawal)

Plan-specific note

Blue Shield CA has historically required BMI greater than or equal to 30, documented lifestyle intervention for at least six months and step therapy through phentermine where not contraindicated. Some Blue Shield Promise (Medi-Cal managed care) plans follow Medi-Cal PDL, which excludes GLP-1 for obesity indication entirely as of 2026.

Requested action

I am requesting prior authorization for Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg) or Zepbound (tirzepatide) at the [insert starting dose] starting dose, with planned titration per FDA labeling. I am also requesting that this authorization be granted for a continuous 12-month period subject to documented clinical response, per standard formulary practice.

If additional information is required, please contact me directly at [Prescriber phone] or [Prescriber email]. I am available to discuss this case with your medical director if helpful.

Thank you for your attention to this request.

Sincerely,

[Prescriber full signature]
[Prescriber printed name, credentials]
[Prescriber NPI]
[Practice name and address]

Attachments:
  - Current vital signs and BMI calculation
  - Most recent relevant labs
  - Documentation of comorbidities
  - Documentation of prior treatment trials
  - Sleep study report (if OSA indication)
  - Cardiac history documentation (if CV indication)

Plantillas educativas únicamente. No constituyen asesoramiento legal ni médico. Las cartas deben ser firmadas por el clínico tratante (MD, DO, NP, PA) con autoridad de prescripción. Cada plan cambia los criterios trimestralmente. Verifique con el boletín de política de PA más reciente de su plan antes de enviar. No invente hallazgos clínicos. No altere la firma de un clínico.

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