News Category: Advocacy

NHIA responded to a CMS request for information on the modification of essential health benefits (EHB) required to be covered by Accountable Care Organization (ACO) plans.
The National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) has developed recommendations for commercial, Medicaid, and Medicare Advantage payors to reduce administrative burden and remove barriers to accessing certain infusion services.
NHIA President & CEO Connie Sullivan responds to recent alarmist news stories based on flawed research about CLABSI surveillance in home infusion.

“Misleading stories about the risks of home infusion have real consequences and may result in fewer patients eventually having access to these essential services.”

NHIA Submits Comments on DIR Proposed Rule

NHIA submitted comments on a CMS proposed rule: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2023 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs, which would alter the way pharmacy price concessions, including direct and indirect remuneration (DIR fees), are calculated by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

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A Multi-Center Time Study of Home Infusion Pharmacist Professional Services

Abstract | Download pdf

Danell Haines, PhD, Research Consultant; Ryan Garst, PharmD, MBA, IgCP, BCSCP, NHIA; Connie Sullivan, BSPharm, NHIA; Jennifer Charron, RN, MSN, MBA, NHIA

Pharmacist professional services are paramount to the success of the home infusion process. Using home infusion pharmacist time utilization data collected in this study, the amount of time the home infusion pharmacist spends managing and caring for the patient was determined. The categories of professional services the pharmacist provides and the time and task differences between therapy types and methods of administration was also determined.

Read More »

A Multi-Center Study of Home Infusion Services in Rural Areas

Full text | Download pdf

Steven Ward, WellSky; Bill Noyes, NHIA; Connie Sullivan, BSPharm, NHIA; Danell Haines, PhD, Research Consultant

Approximately 15% of the U.S. population lives in rural areas. It is recognized that rural Americans have fewer health care opportunities when compared to metropolitan residents. This study aimed to determine the annual percentage of home infusion patients living and receiving home infusion services in rural areas.

Read More »

A 10-Year Retrospective Pilot Study of Parenteral Diphenhydramine Use in Home Infusion Patients

Full text | Download pdf

Mary Beth Letourneau, PharmD, New England Life Care; Erica Sievert, PharmD, New England Life Care; Amy MacInnis, PharmD, New England Life Care

Patients who administer chronic parenteral diphenhydramine are at risk of developing behavioral issues that may represent misuse or abuse. The purpose of this study was to assess potential risk factors and comorbidities for medication noncompliance in the home infusion patient population prescribed parenteral diphenhydramine.

Read More »

NHIA Announces 2022 Class of Home Infusion Fellows

The National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) is pleased to announce the 2022 Fellow Program (FNHIA) cohort, made up of highly accomplished home and alternate site infusion professionals. The program is administered and funded by the National Home Infusion Foundation (NHIF), thanks to a generous contribution from Integrated Medical Systems, Inc. (IMS), the 2022 sponsor of the NHIA Fellow Program.

Read More »

Announcing NHIA University: Our New Online Education Platform Free for Members

Free for all members, NHIA University houses our complete library of educational content for all roles and interests within home and alternate site infusion. The categorized and searchable interface provides a personalized learning dashboard tied to your NHIA member account and includes all of our continuing education (CE) credit offerings for Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, RNs & RDs.

Read More »

NHIA Submits Comments on DIR Proposed Rule

NHIA submitted comments on a CMS proposed rule: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2023 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs, which would alter the way pharmacy price concessions, including direct and indirect remuneration (DIR fees), are calculated by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

Read More »

A Multi-Center Time Study of Home Infusion Pharmacist Professional Services

Abstract | Download pdf

Danell Haines, PhD, Research Consultant; Ryan Garst, PharmD, MBA, IgCP, BCSCP, NHIA; Connie Sullivan, BSPharm, NHIA; Jennifer Charron, RN, MSN, MBA, NHIA

Pharmacist professional services are paramount to the success of the home infusion process. Using home infusion pharmacist time utilization data collected in this study, the amount of time the home infusion pharmacist spends managing and caring for the patient was determined. The categories of professional services the pharmacist provides and the time and task differences between therapy types and methods of administration was also determined.

Read More »

A Multi-Center Study of Home Infusion Services in Rural Areas

Full text | Download pdf

Steven Ward, WellSky; Bill Noyes, NHIA; Connie Sullivan, BSPharm, NHIA; Danell Haines, PhD, Research Consultant

Approximately 15% of the U.S. population lives in rural areas. It is recognized that rural Americans have fewer health care opportunities when compared to metropolitan residents. This study aimed to determine the annual percentage of home infusion patients living and receiving home infusion services in rural areas.

Read More »

A 10-Year Retrospective Pilot Study of Parenteral Diphenhydramine Use in Home Infusion Patients

Full text | Download pdf

Mary Beth Letourneau, PharmD, New England Life Care; Erica Sievert, PharmD, New England Life Care; Amy MacInnis, PharmD, New England Life Care

Patients who administer chronic parenteral diphenhydramine are at risk of developing behavioral issues that may represent misuse or abuse. The purpose of this study was to assess potential risk factors and comorbidities for medication noncompliance in the home infusion patient population prescribed parenteral diphenhydramine.

Read More »

NHIA Announces 2022 Class of Home Infusion Fellows

The National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) is pleased to announce the 2022 Fellow Program (FNHIA) cohort, made up of highly accomplished home and alternate site infusion professionals. The program is administered and funded by the National Home Infusion Foundation (NHIF), thanks to a generous contribution from Integrated Medical Systems, Inc. (IMS), the 2022 sponsor of the NHIA Fellow Program.

Read More »

Announcing NHIA University: Our New Online Education Platform Free for Members

Free for all members, NHIA University houses our complete library of educational content for all roles and interests within home and alternate site infusion. The categorized and searchable interface provides a personalized learning dashboard tied to your NHIA member account and includes all of our continuing education (CE) credit offerings for Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, RNs & RDs.

Read More »