April 26, 2022
This week, NHIA submitted comments on California SB 958, the Medication and Patient Safety Act of 2022.
NHIA supports amendments to the proposed legislation that allow for infused medications to be administered in the enrollee’s home when the physician and patient determine it is in the patient’s best interest.
NHIA objects to any efforts to restrict access to home infusion and rejects language that implies office-based infusions are safer than administering medications at home and cited studies published by the National Home Infusion Foundation. The association also shared context for the unique expertise of home infusion providers and special considerations, standards and protocols that they develop to serve their patients.
NHIA voiced support for additional amendments that require physicians to inform patients of all payer-supported site-of-care options for receiving infused and injected medications, similar to a requirement recently included in legislation passed by Congress as part of the 21st Century Cures.
NHIA’s comments also supported restrictions on patient’s transporting their own infusion medications (I.e. brown bagging).
Finally, NHIA’s comments expressed concern that the conditions for coverage or payment described in the proposed legislation are unnecessary and could increase the overall cost of medications for patients.
Last week concluded the 2024 National Home Infusion Association Annual Conference (NHIA 2024), which brings together more than 1,600 home and alternate site infusion professionals for four days of networking, education, and exhibits.
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.
