Diagnosis: Ideopathis short statute

Treatment: Growth hormone

The insurer denied the Medication Genotropin. That denial was upheld

The patient's was diagnosed with Idiopathic Short Stature. Growth hormone in the treatment of idiopathic short stature is supported by randomized controlled trials and consensus guidelines.(4-9) FDA approval for this indication is for "non-growth hormone-deficient short stature, defined by height standard deviation less than or equal to -2.25, and associated with growth rates unlikely to permit attainment of adult height in the normal range, in pediatric patients whose epiphyses are not closed and for whom diagnostic evaluation excludes other causes associated with short stature that should be observed or treated by other means."

The patient does not have a pre-treatment height less than or equal to -2.25 SD. The patient therefore does not meet idiopathic short stature criteria. Genotropin is not medically necessary for this patient.