`Q5164` Ustekinumab-hmny, 1 mg

Injection, ustekinumab-hmny (starjemza), biosimilar, 1 mg

Medicare coverage: Carrier judgment
Status: active (October 2026 file)

Medicare pricing for Q5164

Physician Fee Schedule (CY 2026, RVU26D)

Status E: excluded from the PFS by regulation.

Payer policies and prior authorization for Q5164

68 of 68 payer prior-auth lists that name Q5164 require prior authorization or set conditions: Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (AZ Blue), Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico, Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan, CarePlus Health Plans, Cigna, HealthSpring, Humana, Molina Healthcare of Illinois, Oxford Health Plans, Passport by Molina Healthcare (Kentucky), Rocky Mountain Health Plans, Surest, UnitedHealthcare, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan.

Payer	Plan	State	Prior auth	Conditions	Since	Source
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (AZ Blue)	AZ Blue-administered Medicare Advantage (M2K)	AZ	prior auth required		Sep 1, 2026	AZ Blue Medicare Advantage Prior Authorization Requirements Code List (Effective 09/01/2026)
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (AZ Blue)	Standard PA code list (most commercial plans)	AZ	prior auth required	Request from member's PBM	Sep 1, 2026	AZ Blue Standard Prior Authorization Requirements Code List (09/01/2026)
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (AZ Blue)	State of Arizona employee group (SYD, S3Z)	AZ	prior auth required	Request from member's PBM	Sep 1, 2026	State of Arizona Group Prior Authorization Requirements Code List (09/01/2026)
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (AZ Blue)	Teamsters group (TYW)	AZ	prior auth required	Request from member's PBM	Sep 1, 2026	Teamsters Group Prior Authorization Requirements Code List (Updated 09/01/2026)
Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan	Promise Health Plan Medi-Cal	CA	prior auth required		Sep 1, 2026	Medi-Cal Prior Authorization List
Aetna	Medicare Advantage	All	prior auth required	Step therapy applies	Aug 25, 2026	Aetna Medicare Part B drug list (partbname.xml)
Aetna	Medicare Advantage	All	prior auth required		Oct 1, 2026	Participating provider precertification list for Aetna®
Aetna	Commercial	All	prior auth required		Oct 1, 2026	Participating provider precertification list for Aetna®
Cigna	ACA/IFP	All	prior auth required		Jul 1, 2026	Master Precertification List (For Health Care Providers)
Cigna	Basic Standard	All	prior auth required		Jul 1, 2026	Master Precertification List (For Health Care Providers)
Cigna	Complete/PHS+/Preferred	All	prior auth required		Jul 1, 2026	Master Precertification List (For Health Care Providers)
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico	Turquoise Care (New Mexico Medicaid)	NM	prior auth required		Oct 1, 2026	New Mexico Medicaid Benefit Preauthorization Procedure Code List 10/1/26
HealthSpring	Medicare Advantage	All	prior auth required		Aug 1, 2026	2026 Q4 Prior Authorization List
CarePlus Health Plans	CarePlus Health Plans	FL	prior auth required	Step therapy; NDC required	Jan 1, 2027	Medicare Advantage and Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans Prior Authorization and Notification List We have updated our CarePlus Health Plans Prior Authorization and Notification List for CarePlus Medi
Humana	Humana D-SNP (FL)	FL	prior auth required	New PA requirement; Step therapy; NDC required	Jul 1, 2026	H1036-280 Humana Fully Integrated Florida prior authorization and notification list
Humana	Humana D-SNP (IL)	IL	prior auth required	Step therapy; NDC required	Jan 1, 2027	Humana Dual Fully Integrated Illinois prior authorization and notification list
Humana	Humana D-SNP (IN)	IN	prior auth required	Step therapy; NDC required	Jan 1, 2027	Humana PathWays Dual Care (HMO-POS D-SNP) prior authorization and notification list Important notes:
Humana	Humana D-SNP (MI)	MI	prior auth required	New PA requirement; Step therapy; NDC required	Oct 14, 2026	Humana Dual Integrated (health maintenance organization Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (HMO D- SNP) Michigan prior authorization and notification list (PAL)
Humana	Humana D-SNP (SC)	SC	prior auth required	New PA requirement; Step therapy; NDC required	Jul 1, 2026	Humana Dual Integrated South Carolina prior authorization and notification list
Humana	Humana D-SNP (VA)	VA	prior auth required	New PA requirement; Step therapy; NDC required	Jul 1, 2026	Prior authorization and notification list Humana Dual Fully Integrated H2875-001 (Virginia) Humana Dual Fully Integrated H2875-003 (Virginia)
Humana	Humana Healthy Horizons	KY	prior auth required	NDC required	Oct 7, 2026	Humana Healthy Horizons in Kentucky Prior Authorization and Notification List
Humana	Humana Healthy Horizons	LA	prior auth required	NDC required	Oct 14, 2026	Humana Healthy Horizons in Louisiana Prior Authorization and Notification List
Humana	Humana Healthy Horizons	OH	prior auth required	NDC required	Oct 14, 2026	Humana Healthy Horizons in Ohio prior authorization and notification List
Humana	Humana Healthy Horizons	OK	prior auth required	NDC required	Oct 14, 2026	Humana Healthy Horizons in Oklahoma Prior Authorization and Notification List
Humana	Humana Healthy Horizons	OK	prior auth required	NDC required	Oct 14, 2026	Humana Healthy Horizons in Oklahoma Prior Authorization and Notification List
Humana	Humana Healthy Horizons	SC	prior auth required	NDC required	Oct 14, 2026	Humana Healthy Horizons in South Carolina prior authorization and notification list
Humana	Humana Healthy Horizons	VA	prior auth required	NDC required	Oct 14, 2026	Humana Healthy Horizons in Virginia professionally administered medication prior authorization and notification list
Humana	Humana MA and D-SNP	All	prior auth required	Step therapy; NDC required	Jan 1, 2027	Medicare Advantage and Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans prior authorization and notification list Important notes:
Molina Healthcare of Illinois	Medicaid	IL	prior auth required		Jul 1, 2026	Molina Healthcare of Illinois Codification Grid Q3 2026
Passport by Molina Healthcare (Kentucky)	Medicaid	KY	prior auth required		Jul 1, 2026	Kentucky Medicaid Prior Auth (PA) Code Matrix and Kentucky PA Code Exceptions, effective Q3 2026
Oxford Health Plans	Oxford Health Plans	All	prior auth required		Oct 1, 2026	Prior Authorization Requirements for Oxford Effective October 1, 2026
Rocky Mountain Health Plans	Rocky Mountain Health Plans CHP+	CO	prior auth required		Oct 1, 2026	Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Plan - prior authorization Effective October 1, 2026
Rocky Mountain Health Plans	Rocky Mountain Health Plans Prime / RAE	CO	prior auth required		Oct 1, 2026	Rocky Mountain Health Plans PRIME Effective October 1, 2026
Surest	Surest health plans	All	prior auth required		Oct 1, 2026	Prior Authorization Requirements for Surest Effective October 1, 2026
UnitedHealthcare	Preferred Care Network and Preferred Care Partners of Florida	FL	prior auth required		Oct 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for Preferred Care Network and Preferred Care Partners of Florida Effective October 1, 2026
UnitedHealthcare	UnitedHealthcare Commercial	All	prior auth required		Oct 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for UnitedHealthcare commercial plans Effective October 1, 2026
UnitedHealthcare	UnitedHealthcare Complete (Individual & Family plans)	All	prior auth required		Sep 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for UnitedHealthcare Complete Effective September 1, 2026
UnitedHealthcare	UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange plans	All	prior auth required		Oct 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange plans Effective October 1, 2026
UnitedHealthcare	UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage, Peoples Health and Dual Complete (D-SNP)	All	prior auth required	Excluded plans: for therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals: UHC Nursing Home Plan and UHC Care Advantage Plan (I-SNP)	Oct 1, 2026	UnitedHealthcare® Medicare Advantage/ Peoples Health Plans prior authorization requirements Effective October 1, 2026
UnitedHealthcare	UnitedHealthcare Mid-Atlantic Health Plans	All	prior auth under conditions	If prior authorization requirements for the drug aren’t met, UnitedHealthcare will call the health care professional’s office within 3 days.	Oct 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for UnitedHealthcare Mid-Atlantic Health Plans Effective October 1, 2026
UnitedHealthcare	UnitedHealthcare of the River Valley	All	prior auth required		Oct 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for UnitedHealthcare of the River Valley Effective October 1, 2026
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan	AHCCCS Complete Care (ACC)	AZ	prior auth required		Oct 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for AHCCCS Complete Care (ACC) Medicaid effective October 1, 2026
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan	ALTCS Developmentally Disabled	AZ	prior auth required		Oct 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for Arizona Developmental Disabilities Effective October 1, 2026
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan	ALTCS Long Term Care	AZ	prior auth required		Oct 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for Arizona Long Term Care Effective October 1, 2026
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan	Indiana Hoosier Care Connect	IN	prior auth required		Oct 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for Indiana Hoosier Care Connect Effective October 1, 2026
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan	Indiana PathWays for Aging (MLTSS)	IN	prior auth required		Oct 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for Indiana MLTSS Pathways Effective October 1, 2026
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan	KanCare	KS	prior auth required		Oct 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for Kansas Medicaid Effective October 1, 2026
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan	Maryland HealthChoice	MD	prior auth required		Sep 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Maryland Effective September 1, 2026
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan	Massachusetts Senior Care Options (SCO) and OneCare	MA	prior auth required		Oct 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for Massachusetts MA SCO OneCare Effective October 1, 2026
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan	Michigan Medicaid, Healthy Michigan Plan, CSHCS	MI	prior auth required		Oct 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Michigan, Healthy Michigan Plan and Children’s Special Health Care Services Effective October 1, 2026
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan	Nebraska Heritage Health	NE	prior auth required		Jul 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Nebraska Effective July 1, 2026 General Information This list contains prior authorization requirements for participating United
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan	New Jersey FamilyCare	NJ	prior auth required		Oct 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of New Jersey Effective October 1, 2026 General Information This list contains prior authorization requirements for participating U
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan	New Mexico Turquoise Care	NM	prior auth required		Oct 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of New Mexico Effective October 1, 2026
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan	Pennsylvania CHIP	PA	prior auth required		Jul 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Pennsylvania CHIP Effective July 1, 2026
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan	Pennsylvania Medicaid	PA	prior auth required		Jul 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Pennsylvania Effective July 1, 2026
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan	TennCare	TN	prior auth required		Oct 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Tennessee Effective October 1, 2026
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan	Texas CHIP	TX	prior auth required		Jul 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for Texas CHIP Effective September 1, 2026 This list contains prior authorization requirements for participating UnitedHealthcare Community Plan Texas CHIP health care
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan	Texas STAR	TX	prior auth required		Jul 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for Texas STAR Effective September 1, 2026 This list contains prior authorization review requirements for participating UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas STAR h
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan	Texas STAR Kids	TX	prior auth required		Jul 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for STAR Kids Effective September 1, 2026 This list contains prior authorization review requirements for participating UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas STAR Ki
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan	Texas STAR+PLUS	TX	prior auth required		Jul 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for STAR+Plus Effective September 1, 2026 This list contains prior authorization requirements for participating UnitedHealthcare Community Plan STAR+PLUS health care p
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan	UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Florida	FL	prior auth required		Oct 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for UnitedHeathcare Community Plan of Florida Effective October 1, 2026
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan	UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Hawaii (QUEST Integration)	HI	prior auth required		Oct 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Hawaii Effective October 1, 2026
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan	UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Kentucky	KY	prior auth required		Jul 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Kentucky Effective July 1, 2026
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan	UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of New York	NY	prior auth required		Oct 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of New York Effective October 1, 2026
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan	Virginia Cardinal Care LTSS	VA	prior auth required		Oct 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for Virginia Cardinal Care LTSS Effective October 1, 2026
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan	Virginia Cardinal Care Medicaid	VA	prior auth required		Oct 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for Virginia Cardinal Care Effective October 1, 2026
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan	Washington Apple Health	WA	prior auth required		Oct 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for the UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Washington Effective April 1, 2023
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan	Wisconsin BadgerCare Plus and Medicaid SSI	WI	prior auth required		Sep 1, 2026	Prior authorization requirements for Wisconsin Medicaid Effective September 1, 2026 General Information This list contains prior authorization requirements for participating UnitedHealthcare Community

Payer coverage policies that name Q5164

Q5164 appears in 14 coverage policies from Centene, Cigna, Health Care Service Corporation (BCBS IL, TX, OK, NM, MT), Premera Blue Cross, UnitedHealthcare, Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Payer	Policy	Role in policy	Reviewed	Document
Centene	Biologic and Non-biologic DMARDs	covered if criteria are met	Aug 1, 2026	payer document
Cigna	Inflammatory Conditions – Ustekinumab Intravenous Products Prior Authorization Policy (IP0686)	covered if criteria are met	Jul 1, 2026	payer document
Cigna	Inflammatory Conditions – Ustekinumab Subcutaneous Products Prior Authorization Policy (IP0687)	covered if criteria are met	Jul 1, 2026	payer document
Health Care Service Corporation (BCBS IL, TX, OK, NM, MT)	Specialty Medication Administration Site of Care HCPCS Codes J0129, J0174, J0175, J0180, J0218, J0219, J0221, J0222, J0223, J0224,	listed, no stance	Jan 1, 2026	payer document
Health Care Service Corporation (BCBS IL, TX, OK, NM, MT)	Ustekinumab and Associated Biosimilars (RX501.114) HCPCS Codes C9399, J3357, J3358, J3490, J3590, Q5098, Q5099, Q5100, Q5137,	listed, no stance	Jul 1, 2026	payer document
Premera Blue Cross	(effective January 1, 2027) Pharmacologic Treatment of Psoriasis (5.01.629) Page \| 23 of 42 \| ∞	listed, no stance	Sep 8, 2026	payer document
Premera Blue Cross	Pharmacologic Treatment of Psoriatic Arthritis (5.01.645) Page \| 17 of 24 \| ∞	listed, no stance	Sep 8, 2026	payer document
Premera Blue Cross	Pharmacotherapy of Inflammatory Bowel Disorder (5.01.563) Page \| 39 of 74 \| ∞	listed, no stance	Sep 8, 2026	payer document
UnitedHealthcare	Maximum Dosage and Frequency (CS2026D0034AV)	listed, no stance	Aug 1, 2026	payer document
UnitedHealthcare	Medicare Part B Step Therapy Programs (IAP.001.30) Non-Preferred	listed, no stance	Jul 1, 2026	payer document
UnitedHealthcare	Provider Administered Drugs – Site of Care (2026D0121W)	listed, no stance	Sep 1, 2026	payer document
UnitedHealthcare	Ustekinumab (2026D0045AB)	listed, no stance	Jul 1, 2026	payer document
UnitedHealthcare	Ustekinumab (CS2026D0045AI)	listed, no stance	Sep 1, 2026	payer document
Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield	Ustekinumab (05.01.28)	listed, no stance	Apr 1, 2026	payer document

Recent prior-auth changes

Oct 14, 2026: PA removed, Humana
Oct 1, 2026: PA added, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan
Oct 1, 2026: PA added, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan
Oct 1, 2026: PA added, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico
Sep 1, 2026: PA added, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan
Sep 1, 2026: PA added, Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan
Sep 1, 2026: PA added, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan
Sep 1, 2026: PA added, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan
Aug 1, 2026: PA removed, Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan
Aug 1, 2026: PA added, HealthSpring

Medicaid fee-for-service

Prior authorization required or conditional in VT, WA.

AZ: $4.23 (outpatient_hospital), effective Jul 1, 2026
IL: $3.94 (practitioner), effective Jul 1, 2026
KS: $3.17 (default, Exempt Physician), effective Jul 1, 2026
NE: $4.52 (injectables), effective Jul 1, 2026
OK: $4.23 (physician, non-facility), effective Jul 1, 2026
VT: $0.00 (outpatient_hospital_opps), effective Jul 1, 2026
WA: $9.56 (professional_administered_drugs), effective Jul 1, 2026

From payers' published prior-auth lists, coverage policies and state Medicaid fee schedules, updated Oct 16, 2026. The role is what the policy's own code table or text says about the code. Not a guarantee of coverage or payment; verify with the payer. CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association.

Q5164 Ustekinumab-hmny, 1 mg