Alexandria, VA (April 26, 2023)—The National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) applauds the introduction of the “Expanding Care in the Home Act,” (H.R.2853) which would expand coverage for home-based services, such as home infusion, dialysis, diagnostic imaging, and personal care services for Medicare beneficiaries. The association appreciates the efforts of Moving Health Home and their legislative champions Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) in bringing forward this important legislation, which clearly outlines gaps in the current Medicare benefit for patients who prefer to access a variety of health care services in their homes.
While the Expanding Care in the Home Act illustrates a well-defined vision of what a workable home infusion benefit could and should look like, there are more immediate steps Congress could take to improve beneficiary access to home infusion services. Passing the Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act, as introduced in the 117th Congress, would permanently fix the existing Medicare Home Infusion Therapy benefit by requiring the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to pay home infusion providers for professional services each day the drug is administered and removing the requirement that a skilled professional be present in the home for billing to occur.
“The Expanding Care in the Home Act breaks down barriers in the Medicare program that make home-based care inaccessible,” said John Rademacher, Chair of NHIA’s Board of Directors and CEO of Option Care Health, which is a member of both NHIA and Moving Health Home. “The past few years have demonstrated that a wide array of health care services can be provided in the home at the convenience of patients and to the benefit of the health care system at large. However, providing coverage for the full scope of professional services necessary in providing that care – such as pharmacy services for home infusion – is essential to designing workable coverage.”
“NHIA appreciates the partnership with Moving Health Home in drafting this legislation that shows how a comprehensive benefit for home-based care, including infusion services, could work,” said Connie Sullivan, President and CEO of NHIA. “It’s critical that Medicare beneficiaries have the same access to contemporary care models that patients in the commercial sector enjoy. Unfortunately, under the current Medicare Home Infusion Therapy benefit, we’ve only seen a widening gap in access, as evidenced by CMS’ most recent HIT monitoring report. We urge Congress to take action to remedy these issues and move the Medicare program further into the future of home-based care.”
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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 home and alternate site infusion community so the patients they serve can lead healthy, independent lives. For more information, visit www.nhia.org
In a November 15 House Energy and Commerce Committee markup, Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI) expressed frustration that the Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act (H.R. 4104) was not among the 21 health care bills being considered as part of the session.
NHIA recently submitted comments to 2 Congressional committees seeking more information on health care-related issues, sharing its recommendations to modernize and personalize the health care system, support innovation, and increase patient access to quality and affordable care.
On Tuesday, September 19, 2023, the House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee held a legislative hearing, “Examining Policies to Improve Seniors’ Access to Innovative Drugs, Medical Devices, and Technology.” Home infusion was discussed at least 3 distinct times throughout the hearing, with a consensus that Medicare needs to improve beneficiary access to home infusion services.
