Simlandi becomes our preferred adalimumab product Jan. 1

Starting Jan. 1, 2025, Simlandi^® will be our preferred adalimumab product, replacing Humira^®, for most Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network commercial members with a prescription drug plan. Simlandi is an interchangeable biosimilar to Humira.

Members on a plan using the Preferred Drug List are excluded from this change. This change also doesn’t apply to Medicare Advantage groups or members.

Authorization for Humira will remain in effect until Dec. 31, 2024. Then, starting Jan.1, 2025, a new authorization for Simlandi will be approved and active through Dec. 31, 2025, so members can continue therapy without interruption.

If a member decides to use Humira on or after Jan. 1, the member will be responsible for the full cost.

Filling the prescription

We’ll only pay for Simlandi when filled through Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy, an independent company that provides specialty pharmacy services to Blue Cross and BCN.  

However, some members may be currently filling their Humira prescriptions at the Michigan Medicine Specialty Pharmacy. We’ll pay for Simlandi when filled at that pharmacy to allow those members to continue receiving this medication there.

Their contact information is below.

If a member is currently filling Humira through a Walgreens Pharmacy

Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy will automatically fill the prescription with Simlandi on or after Jan. 1.

If a member is currently filling through a pharmacy other than Walgreens

• A representative from Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy will call the member before Jan. 1 to set up a profile.
• Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy will contact the member’s pharmacy to transfer the prescription or obtain a new prescription from the member's doctor.
• Walgreens will fill the prescription with Simlandi on or after Jan. 1.

When Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy will contact health care providers

Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy will contact providers to obtain a new prescription for Simlandi if:

• The member’s existing prescription for Humira doesn’t have any refills left.
• The member is currently taking a low concentration form of Humira or Humira that contains citrate. Simlandi is a high concentration, citrate-free biosimilar.
• The member is currently using Humira 80 mg in a single dose pen or syringe. The pharmacy will need a new prescription for Simlandi 40 mg autoinjector. Patients will need to inject with two 40 mg autoinjectors, instead of one 80 mg single dose pen or syringe, until the Simlandi 80 mg single dose pen becomes available, which is expected in early January 2025.

Pharmacies will ask providers to send new prescriptions by one of the following methods:

Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy

• Fax: 1-866-515-1356
• E-prescribing name: Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy – MICHIGAN
• Phone number: 1-866-515-1355

Michigan Medicine Specialty Pharmacy

• Fax: 734-232-3408
• E-prescribing name: UM SPECIALTY HOME DELIVERY PHARMACY DEXTER, MI
• Mailing address: 7300 West Joy Road, Dexter, MI 48130