In brief: Infusion bill returns, NIV access falls 

WASHINGTON – Sens. Mark R. Warner, D-Va., and Tim Scott, R-S.C., have reintroduced legislation that will ensure patients maintain access to home infusion therapy.  

The Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act, is also sponsored by Reps. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., Chairman of the House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee, Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., Diana Harshbarger, R-Tenn., and Terri Sewell, D-Ala. 

The legislation protects access to Medicare’s home infusion benefit by making clear that pharmacy services for home infusion therapy can be reimbursed and sets an appropriate rate for such services. 

“We have seen for years that patients are better off when they can receive quality care from the comfort of their own homes,” said Sen. Warner. “This legislation would ensure that millions of Americans who suffer from life threatening conditions such as immune diseases, cancer, serious infections, and heart failure can receive the care they need without having to make frequent, sometimes costly trips to the hospital.” 

Specifically, the legislation would: 

• include pharmacy services as part of covered home infusion therapy under Medicare, encompassing assessments, drug preparation and compounding, and care coordination and documentation; 

• direct CMS to pay 50% of the nursing rate on home infusion days when a nurse is not present; 

• allow nurse practitioners and physician assistants to establish and review the plan of care for home infusion therapy. 

The National Home Infusion Association supports the legislation, which is similar to bills in previous sessions of Congress and garnered widespread support among health care stakeholders. 

“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 and 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.”  

Regulatory update: Ventilator access, bid relief support 

ARLINGTON, Va. – AAHomecare and the ALS Association asked CMS to promptly issue a memorandum clarifying medical policy and coverage of non-invasive ventilators (NIVs) and take steps to expedite authorizations for people living with ALS. 

They shared their concerns about reports of denials as high as 86% and 64% for two major MA plans, with rates in the low teens for other MA plans. They report issues for both new setups and continued authorizations. 

“The ALS Association representatives and clinicians provided first-hand accounts of the devastating impacts that delays and denials can have on patients and their caregivers,” the association stated. “The advocates drove home the notion that physicians who have examined and made a clinical assessment of a patient are best positioned to determine the type of respirator needed – not MA plan prior authorization and utilization staff.”   

AAHomecare representatives Tom Ryan, David Chandler and Cara Bachenheimer were joined by ALS Association representatives Kathleen Sheehan and Cynthia Knoche. Dr. Lisa Wolf and Dr. John Hansen-Flaschen, prominent physicians who treat ALS patients, also took part in the meeting. CMS was represented by its Deputy Director, Parts C and D, as well as the Director and Deputy Director of Drug and Health Plan Contact Administration.  
 
Bid relief support 

Twenty-five national, regional and state HME associations have joined AAHomecare in writing a letter in support of S. 1294, which would extend the 75/25 blended Medicare reimbursement rate for suppliers in non-rural, non-competitive bidding areas through the end of 2024. 

In their letter to the bill’s original sponsors, Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., the associations note that rising product and operational costs “are being shouldered by DME suppliers who continue receiving price increase notifications from their vendor partners, as well as increased delivery and operational costs, while facing fixed reimbursement rates.” 

AAHomecare recommends that stakeholders use the letter when contacting senators to support the bill. 

“We need to continue to press legislators to co-sponsor S.1294 in June and July and begin to build momentum for consideration later this year,” the association states. “Convincing Senators to co-sponsor legislation can be a challenging process but building a base of bipartisan support for the S. 1294 is critical for the bill’s consideration. Support from members of the Senate Finance Committee is especially important.” 

Cardinal Health at-Home Solutions to open largest distribution center yet 

DUBLIN, Ohio – Cardinal Health has plans to build a new distribution center in the Greenville, S.C., area to support its at-Home Solutions business. At about 350,000 square feet, the new center will provide at-Home Solutions with the space and automation it needs to serve its existing customers and patients, while allowing for business expansion. “I am thrilled about this new space, which is the second building we’ve built from the ground up inside of two years – and the largest building at-Home Solutions has ever opened to date,” said Rob Schlissberg, president, at-Home Solutions. “This announcement is a testament to the growth that we’re seeing as a business and across the industry. Over a little more than a decade, we’ve grown from serving about 1 million customers annually to more than 4 million – and with that growth, we need more space to meet customer demands efficiently and quickly.” The new facility, at-Home Solutions’ 11th distribution center nationwide and its second to feature AutoStore empowered by Swisslog, will bring up to 200 job opportunities to the Greenville region over the next two years. While the distribution center has the capability to support all 50 states, its primary focus will be customers located in the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri and Louisiana. Once operational, it will ship about 8,000 packages per day directly to patient homes. At-Home Solutions currently ships approximately 55,000 packages per day from its 10 sites. 

Permobil outlines benefit of power standing 

STOCKHOLM – Permobil has released a white paper that outlines the impact that power standing wheelchairs can have on a user’s health and their independence. “Based on the comprehensive nature of this white paper and all the resources presented, clinicians can utilize this paper to support their clinical decision-making when matching individual needs with the benefits and considerations of power standing wheelchairs,” the company states. “In addition, the connection between self-reported experiences and the clinical evidence can provide confidence in setting goals and expectations throughout the evaluative process.” For the white paper, Permobil reviewed 10 scientific publications, including five clinical trials, among other sources, and conducted a survey of 137 users. The company found that power standing wheelchairs resulted in improvements in pressure redistribution; bladder, bowel and digestive functions; range of motion and muscle strength; activities of daily living, personal/medical care and leisure activities; functional reach; communication; participation in social, work and educational settings; and independence. Go here to read the white paper. Go here to watch Permobil experts discuss the white paper.  

AAH installs new leadership 

ARLINGTON, Va. - AAHomecare’s membership has approved new leadership for the association, including Josh Marx, CEO of Medical Service Company, as chairman of the board. Other officers elected include Ryan Bullock, COO of Aeroflow, as vice chairman, and Bill Guidetti, president, East Region at Apria Healthcare, as treasurer. “It’s an honor and privilege to be voted to serve as Chairman for the industry’s national association, AAHomecare,” said Marx. “The HME industry is vibrant, relevant, and an essential part of the healthcare value chain. The association and its leadership have been a leading force in moving our industry forward through thoughtful legislative efforts, state and national advocacy, and more. I look forward to assisting in the guidance of our association to continue driving value for our members, our industry, and the patients we all serve.” AAHomecare members also elected six individuals to at-large board seats for three-year terms (2023-2026), as recommended by the association’s nominating committee:  

• Nick Bush (director of business development, Direct Supply) 
• Steve Griggs (CEO, AdaptHealth) 
• Morten Hansen (vice president, Comfort Medical Supply) 
• Casey Hoyt (CEO, Viemed ) 
• Jim Nygren (president, VGM Insurance) 
• Kris Srinivasan (vice president, strategy & business development) 

Nygren is new to the board; Bush, Griggs, Hansen, Hoyt, and Srinivasan were re-elected. 
   
John Quinlan, 0wner of Quinlan's Pharmacy & Medical Equipment and president of the Northeast Medical Equipment Providers Association, also joins the board through his role as chair of the State Leaders Council. 

NCPA opens registration for annual convention 

ARLINGTON, Va. - The National Community Pharmacists Association has opened registration for its 2023 Annual Convention, set for Oct. 14-17 in Orlando. “This year’s convention is being designed deliberately to help pharmacy teams offer better outcomes to patients and see positive effects in the business,” said Hugh Chancy, president of the NCPA and co-owner of Chancy Drugs in South Georgia. “It’s falling during a critical time for community pharmacy, and it’s more important than ever for pharmacy owners to be proactive in planning for and responding to industry challenges. Convention will feature phenomenal networking opportunities, vendors, CEs – it is chock-full with strategies that attendees can take home, put into practice, and use to elevate their offerings and their operations. I’m looking forward to what is sure to be an information- and action-packed event.” To learn about and register for NCPA’s 2023 Annual Convention, click here. More information will be added as it becomes available. 

CAIRE taps Quality Biomedical for repair network 

BALL GROUND, Ga.– CAIRE has added Quality Biomedical to its Authorized Service Center, a nationwide provider of fleet management services, and specialists in respiratory equipment maintenance and repair. Through this new agreement, the Boulder, Colo.-based company will support CAIRE customers with in-warranty and out-of-warranty repairs, which are critical to support the needs of HME providers and other major health care institutions, including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, long-term acute care and other providers across the country. In addition to stationary and portable oxygen concentrators, Quality Biomedical repairs CPAP and BiPAP devices, ventilators and more. Founded in 2004, Quality Biomedical has seven locations in addition to its headquarters in Boulder: Allentown, Pa.; Cartersville, Ga.; Dallas; Fresno, Calif.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Maryland Heights, Mo.; and Pinellas Park, Fla.