Home infusion stakeholders now have bills in House, Senate
By HME News Staff
Updated 8:44 AM CDT, Wed August 25, 2021
WASHINGTON – A bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives to improve access to home infusion therapy for Medicare beneficiaries.
Introduced by Reps. Terri Sewell, D-Ala., Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., Fred Upton, R-Mich., and Vern Buchannan, R-Fla., H.R. 5067, the Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act provides technical clarifications that would remove the physical presence requirement, ensuring payment regardless of whether a health care professional is present in the patient’s home.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the need to treat our most vulnerable patients at home,” said Tim Affeldt, PharmD, vice president of Fairview Pharmacy Services and chair of the National Home Infusion Association’s board of directors. “This legislation will ensure that Medicare’s home infusion benefit is accessible to all patients, including individuals who have transportation or ambulatory challenges and those who live in rural or underserved communities.”
The bill would also acknowledge the full scope of professional services provided in home infusion – including essential pharmacist services – into the reimbursement structure.
A similar bill was recently introduced in the Senate.
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