NHIA pushes home infusion bills in DC 

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Members of the National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) on Nov. 6 participated in more than 130 meetings with members of Congress and their staff to advocate for a fix to the Medicare home infusion benefit.

NHIA members representing provider and supplier companies, along with patients who depend on home infusion services, participated in the event to share their experiences and discuss the critical need to modernize Medicare coverage for home infusion therapy through the Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act (H.R. 2172 / S. 1058).

“Home-based infusion is a proven, patient-preferred model that delivers safe, effective care while lowering costs and relieving pressure on hospitals and skilled facilities,” said Connie Sullivan, BSPharm, president & CEO of NHIA. “It’s time for Medicare to evolve and catch up to the private sector, where patients can receive care in their preferred setting – the home – while reducing total health care costs.” NHIA says H.R. 2172 / S. 1058 would modernize Medicare’s home infusion therapy benefit by: 

• Closing existing coverage gaps; 

• Recognizing pharmacy professional services essential to the safe delivery of care in the home; and 

• Expanding care for Medicare beneficiaries who require IV anti-infective treatments. 

The NHIA says Medicare's current home infusion benefit is limited to about 36 drugs that use infusion pumps for administration and does not provide adequate coverage for the pharmacy professional services that make home infusion possible. As a result, few home infusion pharmacies participate in the benefit, limiting access for seniors and individuals with disabilities, it says.  

Pictured: Mike Connelly, Don Nymberg, B. Braun Medical; Ashley Czonstkowsky, Coram/CVS; Richard Gentleman, Amerita; Thomas Brown, Erin Cavanaugh, Jefferson Health; Jayme Scali, AvevoRx; Crystal Killian, The Oley Foundation; Matthew Cancelmo, Alexion.

• Related: A group of more than 35 patient and stakeholder groups are calling on Congress to address Medicare beneficiary access to home infusion services.