Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) is notifying providers that Semglee (insulin glargine-yfgn) is experiencing a shortage.
If members are not able to get Semglee at their pharmacy, they can call other pharmacies in the area to try and locate the product.
Blue Cross NC also covers two additional long-acting insulins, which are Toujeo (insulin glargine) and Tresiba (insulin degludec) on all formularies. Toujeo and Tresiba do not require prior authorization. Members can switch to Toujeo or Tresiba, but they would need a new prescription from their provider.
On March 6, 2025, Blue Cross NC added an additional long-acting insulin, Lantus, to all formularies. Both Lantus and Semglee are insulin glargine products, and Semglee is an interchangeable biosimilar to Lantus. Therefore, effective March 6, 2025, if members are experiencing shortages with Semglee, members can request pharmacies to switch their Semglee to Lantus without a new prescription from their provider.
- On Enhanced formularies, all Prior Authorization (PA) requirements will be removed from Lantus.
- On Essential formularies, all Non-Formulary (NF) requirements will be removed from Lantus.
- On Net Results formularies, the Value Prior Authorization (VPA) requirement will be removed from Lantus.
In instances where long-acting insulin are not on the formulary, a pathway for coverage is available for members who require an authorization due to the Semglee shortage. We are continuing to assess and monitor the shortage to evaluate next steps.
We encourage providers to speak with impacted members and educate them on the alternative options as all changes are dependent on member plan coverage and formulary design.
Learn more about drug shortages
Drug shortages happen when there is not enough supply of a drug to meet current or expected demand. Filling needed medication during a drug shortage can be stressful for members, and we are committed to our members’ well-being and minimizing disruptions in their care.
There are steps you can take to help members get their medication when supplies are low:
- Confirm there is a drug shortage by visiting the FDA database of current drug shortages. You can also report a drug shortage to the FDA if the drug is not yet in the database.
- Check Blue Cross NC provider news for announcements about expanding drug coverage. Our team of licensed clinical pharmacists reviews each reported drug shortage that may impact our members. Depending on the drug shortage and impact, our team considers temporary alternative options so members may continue receiving the medications they need.
- Use Blue Cross NC’s drug search tools to find drug criteria and prior authorization request forms. When submitting a prior authorization request form, please indicate if the request is related to or impacted by a current drug shortage.
