AUTHORIZATION Amgen Can Help Support Patients at Every Step of the Access Process

RAVICTI® (glycerol phenylbutyrate) Oral Liquid treatment may require initial action from the HCP and office staff for patients to get access.

How Does the Access Process Work?

Benefits Investigation


Amgen By Your Side Can Assist You With the Benefits Investigation (BI) Process

Our team will contact your patient’s insurance company to review coverage and work with the patient to ensure they understand:

  • Whether the medicine is covered by their policy
  • Any estimated out-of-pocket costs and financial assistance that may be available
  • All PA requirements

Take a deeper look at Amgen By Your Side’s support of patient access

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Prior Authorization


Your Patient May Need a Prior Authorization (PA) Before Beginning Treatment With RAVICTI

Health plans sometimes require a PA before approving coverage of medicine. Also referred to as a preauthorization or precertification, this is a process that your office must complete, describing the reasons your patient should be prescribed RAVICTI and why the health plan should cover the costs. PAs are commonly required for medicines that treat rare diseases.

The requirements for a PA will differ between health plans. Your office must complete and submit all required forms and provide other information and documents requested.

Woman at keyboard

Some of the items commonly required for a PA are:

  • A letter of medical necessity (Downloadable sample below)
  • Health plan identification numbers
  • Confirmation of diagnosis, including test results
  • Your patient’s medical history, including previously tried and failed medications and lifestyle modifications
  • Medical articles about the disease and the Amgen medicine being prescribed
  • Plan-specific PA forms (when applicable)

Use this checklist to ensure you have everything you need for the PA process

Download PDF

Complete this Word document to request insurance coverage for patients on RAVICTI

Download File

Appeal


If a PA Is Denied, an Appeal Can Be Submitted

An appeal letter may be needed if a PA for RAVICTI is denied. When writing an appeal letter, ensure that you address the specific details of the denial reason(s). Refer to the letter of denial for specific language regarding the reason, and address any patient-specific concerns.

Supplemental documentation may include:

  • Relevant clinical notes for your patient
  • Recent test results
  • Supporting scientific publications/journal articles
  • A summary of your recommendation at the end of the letter
  • A letter of medical necessity

Make sure you match the exact language in the denial letter. It is imperative to address the specifics of the denial in the appeal. Before you submit your appeal, be sure to:

  • Check for any incomplete or missing information, a common reason for denial 
  • Schedule a peer-to-peer meeting with health plan
  • Contact a Case Manager to learn about additional resources and next steps in the process

Use this checklist to make sure you have everything you need to appeal patient cases that were denied PA

Download PDF

Use this PDF document featuring a customizable appeals template for patient cases that were denied PA

Download PDF

See how Amgen By Your Side can help with billing and coding

Familiarize yourself with important forms and downloadable resources that explain the process

INDICATION and IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

INDICATION

RAVICTI (glycerol phenylbutyrate) Oral Liquid is indicated for use as a nitrogen-binding agent for chronic management of patients with urea cycle disorders (UCDs) who cannot be managed by dietary protein restriction and/or supplementation alone. RAVICTI must be used with dietary protein restriction and, in some cases, dietary supplements (e.g. essential amino acids, arginine, citrulline, protein-free calorie supplements).

LIMITATIONS OF USE

  • RAVICTI is not indicated for the treatment of acute hyperammonemia in patients with UCDs because more rapidly acting interventions are essential to reduce plasma ammonia levels.
  • The safety and efficacy of RAVICTI for the treatment of N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS) deficiency has not been established.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

CONTRAINDICATIONS

  • Patients with known hypersensitivity to phenylbutyrate: Reactions include wheezing, dyspnea, coughing, hypotension, flushing, nausea, and rash.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

  • Neurotoxicity: Phenylacetate (PAA), the major metabolite of RAVICTI, may be toxic at levels of 500 micrograms/mL or greater. If symptoms of vomiting, nausea, headache, somnolence, or confusion, are present in the absence of high ammonia or other intercurrent illness which explains these symptoms, consider the potential for PAA neurotoxicity which may need reduction in the RAVICTI dosage.
  • Pancreatic Insufficiency or Intestinal Malabsorption: Low or absent pancreatic enzymes or intestinal disease resulting in fat malabsorption may result in reduced or absent digestion of RAVICTI and/or absorption of phenylbutyrate and reduced control of plasma ammonia. Monitor ammonia levels closely.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

The most common adverse reactions reported in clinical trials (at least 10% of patients) were:

  • Adult patients: diarrhea, flatulence, and headache occurred during 4-week treatment (n=45) with RAVICTI; nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, dizziness, headache, and fatigue occurred during 12-month treatment (n=51) with RAVICTI.
  • Pediatric patients ages 2 to 17 years: upper abdominal pain, rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, and headache occurred during 12-month treatment (n=26) with RAVICTI.
  • Pediatric patients ages 2 months to less than 2 years: neutropenia, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, pyrexia, hypophagia, cough, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, rash, and papule occurred during 12-month treatment (n=17) with RAVICTI.
  • Pediatric patients less than 2 months of age: vomiting, rash, gastroesophageal reflux, increased hepatic enzymes, feeding disorder (decreased appetite, hypophagia), anemia, cough, dehydration, metabolic acidosis, thrombocytosis, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, lymphocytosis, diarrhea, flatulence, constipation, pyrexia, lethargy, and irritability/agitation occurred during 24-month treatment (n=16) with RAVICTI.

DRUG INTERACTIONS

  • Corticosteroids, valproic acid, or haloperidol may increase plasma ammonia level. Monitor ammonia levels closely.
  • Probenecid may affect renal excretion of metabolites of RAVICTI, including phenylacetylglutamine (PAGN) and PAA.
  • CYP3A4 substrates with narrow therapeutic index (eg, alfentanil, quinidine, cyclosporine): RAVICTI may decrease exposure to the concomitant drug.
  • Midazolam: Use of RAVICTI decreased exposure of midazolam with concomitant use.

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

  • Pregnancy: RAVICTI should be used with caution in patients who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Based on animal data, RAVICTI may cause fetal harm. Report pregnancies to Amgen at 1‐866‐479‐6742.
  • Lactation: breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with RAVICTI. There are no data on the presence of RAVICTI in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, nor the effects on milk production.

Please see Full Prescribing Information.

INDICATION and IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

INDICATION

RAVICTI (glycerol phenylbutyrate) Oral Liquid is indicated for use as a nitrogen-binding agent for chronic management of patients with urea cycle disorders (UCDs) who cannot be managed by dietary protein restriction and/or supplementation alone. RAVICTI must be used with dietary protein restriction and, in some cases, dietary supplements (e.g. essential amino acids, arginine, citrulline, protein-free calorie supplements).

LIMITATIONS OF USE

  • RAVICTI is not indicated for the treatment of acute hyperammonemia in patients with UCDs because more rapidly acting interventions are essential to reduce plasma ammonia levels.
  • The safety and efficacy of RAVICTI for the treatment of N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS) deficiency has not been established.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

CONTRAINDICATIONS

  • Patients with known hypersensitivity to phenylbutyrate: Reactions include wheezing, dyspnea, coughing, hypotension, flushing, nausea, and rash.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

  • Neurotoxicity: Phenylacetate (PAA), the major metabolite of RAVICTI, may be toxic at levels of 500 micrograms/mL or greater. If symptoms of vomiting, nausea, headache, somnolence, or confusion, are present in the absence of high ammonia or other intercurrent illness which explains these symptoms, consider the potential for PAA neurotoxicity which may need reduction in the RAVICTI dosage.
  • Pancreatic Insufficiency or Intestinal Malabsorption: Low or absent pancreatic enzymes or intestinal disease resulting in fat malabsorption may result in reduced or absent digestion of RAVICTI and/or absorption of phenylbutyrate and reduced control of plasma ammonia. Monitor ammonia levels closely.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

The most common adverse reactions reported in clinical trials (at least 10% of patients) were:

  • Adult patients: diarrhea, flatulence, and headache occurred during 4-week treatment (n=45) with RAVICTI; nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, dizziness, headache, and fatigue occurred during 12-month treatment (n=51) with RAVICTI.
  • Pediatric patients ages 2 to 17 years: upper abdominal pain, rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, and headache occurred during 12-month treatment (n=26) with RAVICTI.
  • Pediatric patients ages 2 months to less than 2 years: neutropenia, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, pyrexia, hypophagia, cough, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, rash, and papule occurred during 12-month treatment (n=17) with RAVICTI.
  • Pediatric patients less than 2 months of age: vomiting, rash, gastroesophageal reflux, increased hepatic enzymes, feeding disorder (decreased appetite, hypophagia), anemia, cough, dehydration, metabolic acidosis, thrombocytosis, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, lymphocytosis, diarrhea, flatulence, constipation, pyrexia, lethargy, and irritability/agitation occurred during 24-month treatment (n=16) with RAVICTI.

DRUG INTERACTIONS

  • Corticosteroids, valproic acid, or haloperidol may increase plasma ammonia level. Monitor ammonia levels closely.
  • Probenecid may affect renal excretion of metabolites of RAVICTI, including phenylacetylglutamine (PAGN) and PAA.
  • CYP3A4 substrates with narrow therapeutic index (eg, alfentanil, quinidine, cyclosporine): RAVICTI may decrease exposure to the concomitant drug.
  • Midazolam: Use of RAVICTI decreased exposure of midazolam with concomitant use.

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

  • Pregnancy: RAVICTI should be used with caution in patients who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Based on animal data, RAVICTI may cause fetal harm. Report pregnancies to Amgen at 1‐866‐479‐6742.
  • Lactation: breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with RAVICTI. There are no data on the presence of RAVICTI in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, nor the effects on milk production.

Please see Full Prescribing Information.