FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Shea McCarthy
Director of Legislative Affairs
shea.mccarthy@nhia.org
202-285-3866
Alexandria, VA (June 14, 2023)—The National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) applauds the introduction of bipartisan, bicameral legislation that will ensure Medicare patients can receive the intravenous (IV) medications they need while at home. Introduced in the Senate (S. 1976) by Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), and in the House (H.R. 4014) by Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), and Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL), the Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act would greatly improve home infusion access for Medicare patients with serious viral and fungal infections, heart failure, immune diseases, cancer, and other conditions that require the use of an infusion pump.
Home infusion pharmacies have been safely and effectively providing a wide range of IV medications to patients in their homes for over 40 years. This proven model of care is critically important for patients living in rural areas, who are disabled, or have transportation challenges. Additionally, home infusion has shown to be a cost-effective alternative when compared to other sites of care. Home infusion was heavily utilized during the COVID-19 public health emergency which prompted a larger shift to home-based health services that has outlasted the crisis.
The benefits of this care model were recently highlighted in the findings from a Medicare demonstration project that studied bundled payment for items and services, such as infusion supplies and nursing services, related to IV immune globulin (IVIG) administration in the home. Clinical measures suggest increased medication adherence and better disease management. In addition, enrollees reported reduced transportation barriers, reduced risk of infection, increased treatment compliance, and improved monitoring. By contrast, utilization trends for the Medicare Part B home infusion therapy (HIT) services benefit—as currently implemented—show a lack of sufficient participation from providers and beneficiaries, indicating a lack of equitable access.
“Home-based infusion services are a critical component in improving access to life-sustaining IV treatments and enhancing the quality of life for patients and their families, while adding capacity to the health care system,” said NHIA President & CEO Connie Sullivan, BSPharm. “Passage of the Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act is critical to ensuring Medicare beneficiaries maintain access to home infusion, allowing them to safely receive treatment in the setting they overwhelmingly prefer: their homes.”
Learn more about the legislation here.
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NHIA is a trade association that represents companies that provide medically necessary infusion therapies to patients in alternate sites, as well as companies that manufacture and supply infusion and specialty pharmacy products. The association’s mission is to provide advocacy, education, and resources to the infusion provider community so the patients they serve can lead healthy, independent lives. For more information, visit www.nhia.org
CMS released its annual monitoring report[link] on the Medicare Part B Home Infusion Therapy (HIT) Services benefit showing that both provider participation and beneficiary utilization have declined over the past year.
The National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) has developed recommendations for commercial, Medicaid, and Medicare Advantage payors to improve patient outcomes and experience, reduce administrative burden, and improve timely access to home infusion services.
This week, during a House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing on Health Care Spending in the United States, Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) addressed Medicare costs and the potential for home infusion to lead to significant cost savings.
