Adbry denials in California external review

In the California DMHC record, independent physician reviewers decided 12 published external-review cases involving Adbryand overturned the plan’s denial in 75%. That is a historical result among cases that reached this program, not a forecast for an individual appeal.

California DMHC decisions
12
2022–2025
Overturned
75%
9 denials reversed

By condition

Published outcomes when Adbry was denied for these conditions.
ConditionDecisionsOverturned
Atopic Dermatitis12
75%
Typical time to a decision
21 days
Most land between 8 and 21 days
Handled as urgent
16.7%
Expedited when a delay would cause harm

What the reviewers wrote

Excerpts from the independent reviewers’ published findings — the actual reasoning, quoted, not summarised.

Where the denial was overturned

ature of Statutory Criteria/Case Summary: The patient has requested authorization and coverage for Adbry injectable 150 mg/mL every other week. Findings: The physician reviewer found that (FDA) approves the use of Adbry (generic name tralokinumab) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) in adults whose disease is not adequately controlled with topical prescription therapies. Boguniewicz and colleagues define moderate-to-severe AD as disease that affects more than 10% BSA and/or involves highly visible areas, or those areas important for function such as the hands, neck, face, and genitals, and that significantly impairs quality-of-life. Silverberg and colleagues note that tralokinumab 300 mg in combination with topical corticosteroids as needed is effective and well tolerated in patients with moderate-to-severe AD.
Medical Necessity · 2022 · IMR MN22-38220
Findings: The physician reviewer found that Nature of Statutory Criteria/Case Summary: The patient has requested authorization and coverage for Adbry. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves Adbry (tralokinumab) for treating moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in adults whose disease is not adequately controlled with topical prescription therapies. Researchers define moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis as the involvement of over ten percent of body surface area and/or the involvement of highly visible areas or those important for function, such as the hands, neck, face, or genitals, with significant impairment of quality of life.
Medical Necessity · 2024 · IMR MN24-41887

Where the denial was upheld

Worth reading too — these show what an appeal has to overcome.
Findings: The physician reviewer found that The patient has requested authorization and coverage for Adbry solution prefilled syringe 150 mg/mL. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Adbry for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in adult patients whose disease is not adequately controlled with topical prescription therapies. A recent consensus article on atopic dermatitis experts defined moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis as greater than 10% body surface area (BSA) involvement and/or involvement of highly visible areas or those important for function and significantly impaired quality of life. The records document that this patient has moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis given involvement of the face and involvement of the trunk. Several recent randomized clinical trials have shown the efficacy of Adbry in treating atopic dermatitis.
Medical Necessity · 2023 · IMR MN23-40146
Nature of Statutory Criteria/Case Summary: The patient’s parent has requested authorization and coverage for Adbry 150 mg/mL injection syringe (inject 4 mL (600 mg) under the skin once for a loading dose, inject 2 mL (300 mg) under the skin every 14 days for maintenance dose). In this case, the patient has several potential medications that would help this patient to control her severe atopic dermatitis and avoid the side effects she has experienced with previous therapy. The patient’s provider has recommended treatment with Adbry. Recently, the provider noted that the patient requires hospitalization due to flare of her atopic dermatitis. However, there are alternative medications for this patient’s disease. In addition, Adbry has not been demonstrated to be more effective in preventing hospitalization than other available therapies.
Medical Necessity · 2023 · IMR MN23-38516

Figures and quotations on this page come from 42,749 published decisions in the California DMHC Independent Medical Review dataset. These are California external-review outcomes. Other state and federal programs have different eligibility rules, processes, and current availability; the rates here do not transfer to those programs or predict an individual result. Excerpts are quoted verbatim from the public record and describe this treatment generally, not any individual case.

How to use this in your appeal

These outcomes describe eligible cases completed through California DMHC’s Independent Medical Review program. They do not estimate the chance that an internal appeal, an external review in another jurisdiction, or your individual case will succeed. Use the record to identify evidence patterns involving Adbry, then check the rights and deadlines that apply to your plan.

SOURCE: CALIFORNIA DMHC INDEPENDENT MEDICAL REVIEW OUTCOMES (CHHS OPEN DATA) · AGGREGATES + DEIDENTIFIED DECISION EXCERPTS/REFERENCE IDS · METHODOLOGY

Not legal or medical advice. Coverage Rights is a self-help tool that helps you prepare your own appeal. For advice about your specific situation, talk to a licensed attorney or your doctor.

Denied Adbry? Use the California record to prepare.

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