On May 15, 2018 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Retacrit (epoetin alfa-epbx), a biosimilar to Epogen^®/Procrit^® (epoetin alfa). Retacrit is now the first and only biosimilar erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) in the United States and is approved for the same indications as Epogen/Procrit.

CMS has granted two Q-codes for Retacrit effective July 1, 2018:

Q5105: Injection, epoetin alfa, biosimilar, (Retacrit) (for esrd on dialysis), 100 units

Q5106: Injection, epoetin alfa, biosimilar, (Retacrit) (for non-esrd use), 1000 units

View Codes on CMS Website