May 17, 2018
Premera selected LifeScan, Inc. (OneTouch®) to be our single, preferred manufacturer for diabetic glucose monitors and supplies in 2018. We won’t cover other brands or manufacturers unless there’s a medical reason to use a different product. You’ll need to submit a prior authorization to prescribe a different brand for your patient or have them continue use of their current meter and test strips.
In January 2018, this new policy applied only to customers on our Medicare Advantage and Individual and Small Group Metallic plans. Starting July 1, 2018, we’re requiring all of our customers to use LifeScan meters and test strips, with a few plan exceptions.
Your patients with prescriptions for other products will need a new prescription for the OneTouch® test strips. Premera covers these test strips today, so patients can transition to the preferred meters and test strips now.
For patients using OneTouch® meters for the first time, OneTouch Verio® offers different meter options that meet a variety of health needs. To support a smooth transition to the OneTouch Verio® meter, LifeScan is providing our customers with a new meter at no cost to them. We’re communicating instructions to impacted members on how they can receive their free OneTouch Verio® meter.