Skip to content
The Policy VaultThe Policy Vault

Increlex (mecasermin)CareFirst (Caremark)

Severe primary insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) deficiency

Initial criteria

  • Age ≥ 2 years (pediatric patient)
  • Pretreatment height ≥ 3 standard deviations (SD) below the mean for age and gender
  • Pretreatment basal IGF-1 level ≥ 3 SD below the mean for age and gender
  • Pediatric GH deficiency ruled out with a provocative GH test (peak GH level ≥ 10 ng/mL)
  • Epiphyses are open

Reauthorization criteria

  • The member’s growth rate > 2 cm/year OR documented clinical reason for lack of efficacy (e.g., on treatment less than 1 year, nearing final adult height/late stages of puberty)
  • Epiphyses are open (confirmed by X-ray or X-ray is not available)

Approval duration

12 months