Carta de PA para FEHB Blue Cross Blue Shield (empleados federales): Apnea obstructiva del sueño (indicación Zepbound SURMOUNT-OSA).

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.

[Today's date]

FEHB Blue Cross Blue Shield (Federal Employee Program)
Prior Authorization Department
Submitted via: CVS Caremark Federal Employee Program portal or fax 1-855-330-1716

Re: Prior Authorization Request, 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 FEHB Blue Cross Blue Shield (Federal Employee Program) Prior Authorization Reviewer,

I am the treating clinician for [Patient name]. I am writing to request prior authorization for Zepbound (tirzepatide) for treatment of Obstructive sleep apnea (Zepbound SURMOUNT-OSA indication) (ICD-10: G47.33).

Clinical justification

FDA approved Zepbound (tirzepatide) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity in December 2024, based on the SURMOUNT-OSA trial program. SURMOUNT-OSA enrolled adults with moderate-to-severe OSA (AHI greater than or equal to 15 events per hour) and BMI greater than or equal to 30. At week 52, Zepbound reduced the apnea-hypopnea index by 25 to 29 events per hour versus 5 events per hour for placebo, with approximately 43 to 52 percent of treated patients achieving disease resolution (AHI less than 5 or AHI 5 to 14 with no daytime symptoms). This is the first GLP-1 indication for OSA and is a Medicare-eligible indication unlike pure obesity.

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 FEHB Blue Cross Blue Shield (Federal Employee Program) policy

This request meets the criteria set out in Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan, Federal Employee Program, GLP-1 PA Criteria:

  - OSA diagnosed by polysomnography or home sleep apnea test with AHI greater than or equal to 15 (moderate to severe)
  - BMI greater than or equal to 30
  - Documentation of CPAP intolerance, non-adherence or patient preference (some plans require CPAP failure first; the FDA label does not require it)
  - Sleep medicine specialist involvement if the plan requires it
  - Most recent sleep study report attached

Supporting evidence

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

  - SURMOUNT-OSA Study 1 (Zepbound in OSA patients on PAP therapy)
  - SURMOUNT-OSA Study 2 (Zepbound in OSA patients not on PAP therapy)

Plan-specific note

FEP BCBS covers Wegovy and Zepbound for obesity at BMI greater than or equal to 30 (or 27 with comorbidity) with documented dietary intervention. The FEP formulary is generally more generous than commercial Anthem for anti-obesity drugs because federal coverage mandates are statutorily different. PBM is CVS Caremark.

Requested action

I am requesting prior authorization for 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)

Aviso legal

John Samaras, Founder and editorI started GLP Chart after overpaying for a GLP-1 myself. Based in Austin, Texas. About this site · LinkedIn · Contact