New Prior Authorization Requirement for Ivermectin
Nothing is more important to us at CareFirst than the health and well-being of our members. When their safety becomes a concern, we’re prepared to respond with positive safety measures to help protect them.
The steep rise in prescription utilization of ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug, which is being used as an alternative treatment for COVID-19, has prompted us to act.
To ensure the safety and wellness of our members and appropriate utilization for Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved indications, we will require prior authorization for ivermectin coverage under a patient’s prescription benefit as of November 16, 2021.
We strongly believe taking this safety measure is in the best interest of our members, considering federal agencies have warned against ivermectin’s use for preventing and treating the virus due to the drug’s safety concerns and potential for side effects. In addition, the FDA has not approved or given ivermectin emergency use authorization for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19.
Therefore, without prior authorization approval, the drug will not be covered. Drug prior authorization requests may be submitted electronically through the CareFirst Provider Portal. To submit a prior authorization online, log in to the Provider Portal at carefirst.com/providerlogin and navigate to the Pre-Auth / Notifications tab to begin.