Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield prior authorization letter for PCOS with metabolic syndrome.

The letter (copy and edit)

Copy the body below and paste it into your clinician's portal or word processor. Replace every [BRACKET] placeholder with patient-specific data before sending. The letter is from your clinician to the plan, signed by your clinician.

[Today's date]

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
Prior Authorization Department
Submitted via: NaviNet provider portal or fax 1-866-240-8123

Re: Prior Authorization Request, Wegovy, Zepbound or off-label Mounjaro depending on T2D status
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 Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Prior Authorization Reviewer,

I am the treating clinician for [Patient name]. I am writing to request prior authorization for Wegovy, Zepbound or off-label Mounjaro depending on T2D status for treatment of PCOS with metabolic syndrome (ICD-10: E28.2, E66.9, R73.03).

Clinical justification

PCOS itself is not an FDA-approved indication for any GLP-1 receptor agonist, but PCOS frequently coexists with insulin resistance, prediabetes and obesity, each of which is a qualifying indication. This PA pathway requests coverage under the obesity indication (if BMI greater than or equal to 30 or 27 with comorbidity) or under the T2D indication (if A1c greater than or equal to 6.5 percent). PCOS-specific evidence: a 2023 systematic review in Reproductive Sciences pooled GLP-1 trial data in women with PCOS and found significant improvements in BMI, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and androgen levels at 12 to 24 weeks of treatment.

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 Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield policy

This request meets the criteria set out in Highmark Medical Policy I-115, Anti-Obesity Pharmacotherapy:

  - PCOS diagnosis documented with ICD-10 E28.2 (often confirmed by Rotterdam criteria)
  - Documentation of metabolic complications: insulin resistance, prediabetes (A1c 5.7 to 6.4) or T2D (A1c greater than or equal to 6.5)
  - BMI documented (qualifies under obesity pathway if 30 or above, or 27 with comorbidity)
  - Six-month lifestyle intervention documented for the obesity pathway
  - Endocrinology or reproductive endocrinology consult letter (strengthens but not always required)

Supporting evidence

The clinical case for Wegovy, Zepbound or off-label Mounjaro depending on T2D status in this indication is supported by the following registration trials and outcomes data:

  - Jensterle et al. 2014 (liraglutide in PCOS, Endocrine Connections)
  - Frossing et al. 2018 (liraglutide in PCOS, Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism)
  - Pooled meta-analyses of GLP-1 in PCOS (Reproductive Sciences 2023)

Plan-specific note

Highmark covers Wegovy and Zepbound at BMI greater than or equal to 30 (or 27 with comorbidity). Six months of documented lifestyle intervention required. Highmark Medicare Advantage plans follow CMS rules, meaning pure obesity is not covered; pivot to CV (SELECT) or OSA (SURMOUNT-OSA) pathway. Express Scripts is the PBM for most Highmark commercial plans. Verify your specific plan's policy.

Requested action

I am requesting prior authorization for Wegovy, Zepbound or off-label Mounjaro depending on T2D status 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)

Clinical rationale for this indication

PCOS itself is not an FDA-approved indication for any GLP-1 receptor agonist, but PCOS frequently coexists with insulin resistance, prediabetes and obesity, each of which is a qualifying indication. This PA pathway requests coverage under the obesity indication (if BMI greater than or equal to 30 or 27 with comorbidity) or under the T2D indication (if A1c greater than or equal to 6.5 percent). PCOS-specific evidence: a 2023 systematic review in Reproductive Sciences pooled GLP-1 trial data in women with PCOS and found significant improvements in BMI, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and androgen levels at 12 to 24 weeks of treatment.

ICD-10 codes to attach

• E28.2
• E66.9
• R73.03

Criteria checklist (what to attach with the letter)

1. PCOS diagnosis documented with ICD-10 E28.2 (often confirmed by Rotterdam criteria)
2. Documentation of metabolic complications: insulin resistance, prediabetes (A1c 5.7 to 6.4) or T2D (A1c greater than or equal to 6.5)
3. BMI documented (qualifies under obesity pathway if 30 or above, or 27 with comorbidity)
4. Six-month lifestyle intervention documented for the obesity pathway
5. Endocrinology or reproductive endocrinology consult letter (strengthens but not always required)

Supporting trials and evidence

• Jensterle et al. 2014 (liraglutide in PCOS, Endocrine Connections)
• Frossing et al. 2018 (liraglutide in PCOS, Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism)
• Pooled meta-analyses of GLP-1 in PCOS (Reproductive Sciences 2023)

The denial reasons to preempt

Most denials of this combination cite one of the reasons below. Address each one in the patient-specific findings section before you send. If the plan denies anyway, the appeal letter cites the same evidence with the denial reason added in the opening paragraph.

• PA submitted for PCOS alone without coexisting obesity or T2D documentation
• No documentation of insulin resistance or metabolic complications
• Plan requires endocrinology consult and only primary care submitted

If you have not picked a program yet

The PA path is faster when your prescriber is already familiar with your insurance plan and runs the authorization regularly. Programs in our chart that actively run prior authorization for Wegovy, Zepbound or off-label Mounjaro depending on T2D status:

• PlushCare · commercial and Medicare PA experience
• Form Health · obesity-medicine specialty, high PA success rate
• Knownwell · cardiometabolic focus, all major PBMs
• Calibrate · insurance-focused, employer-friendly

Other indications under Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield

If this indication is not the right fit, try a different qualifying indication under the same plan:

Same indication, other plans

Same PCOS with metabolic syndrome indication, different plan-specific letter templates if your insurance is not Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield:

Disclaimer

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