[Photo via VCG]

"Beijing Inclusive Medical Insurance Program" has optimized and upgraded its current specialty drug varieties and indications in accordance with the principle of only increasing but not decreasing treatment level, and further supplementing domestic and foreign specialty drugs and application indications.

1. Upgrade domestic specialty drugs 

(1) Retain originally listed drugs covered by the medical insurance system

Fourteen drugs in the domestic specialty drug list, namely, Ibrance, Venclexta, Adcetris, Kadcyla, Orpathys, Kyprolis, Afinitor, Erbitux, Avastin, Mekinist, Taflinar, AiRuiKang (Dalpiciclib), Rezvilutamide Tablets, and Lorbrena, are covered by the medical insurance system. Additionally, two kinds of drugs, namely, Lynparza and Baize'an (Tislelizumab), have indications that are partly covered by the medical insurance system, and these have been retained in the New Specialty Drug List.

(2) Expand the coverage of indications for some originally listed drugs

Newly approved indications for two drugs in the domestic specialty drug list, namely, Baize'an (Tislelizumab) and Opdivo, have been added in line with the principles.

(3) Increase the number of domestic specialty drugs

Focusing on high-incidence tumor treatments in Beijing, and aiming at full-cycle treatment and all-target use, eight new drugs, namely Linperlisib, Adebrelimab (SHR-1316), Vitrakvi, Nubeqa, Calquence, Enhertu, Kisqali and Polivy, have been added to the domestic specialty drug list for the treatment of lung cancer, solid tumors, prostate cancer, lymphoma and breast cancer.

2. Upgrade foreign specialty drugs

(1) Adjust indications for some drugs used in high-incidence cancer treatment in the foreign specialty drug list based on the latest Medication Guide.

The indications for two drugs, namely, Enhertu and Retsevmo, have been adjusted in accordance with the latest Medication Guide.

(2) Update trade names and generic names of some drugs in the foreign specialty drug list based on the latest Medication Guide.

For example, Tienam (generic name: Recarbrio/锐可博), a foreign specialty drug, has been renamed Recarbrio (generic name: imipenem /cilastatin/ relebactam).

3. Insured individuals treated with drugs covered by the New Specialty Drug List in "Beijing Inclusive Medical Insurance Program" in 2023 shall be entitled to retroactive compensation back to January 1, 2023.

The New Specialty Drug List in "Beijing Inclusive Medical Insurance Program" is officially implemented from May 5, 2023 (Friday). Insured individuals treated with drugs covered by the New Specialty Drug List who did not make any claims from January 1, 2023, to May 4, 2023, shall be entitled to retroactive compensation.

Source: Official Weibo account of "Beijing Inclusive Medical Insurance Program"