A bipartisan bill sponsored on June 14 by U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) would amend the Social Security Act to preserve patient access to home infusion therapy under the Medicare program.
Rep. Buchanan introduced the Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act, H.R. 4104, with three original cosponsors, including U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), to ensure patients with infections, heart failure, immune diseases, cancer, and other conditions receive the intravenous (IV) medications they need while at home, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
“The coronavirus pandemic taught us that home health services are invaluable for seniors in my district and across the country,” Rep. Buchanan said. “The aptly-named Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act will ensure that Medicare recipients can continue to receive life-saving drugs in a safe and effective way from the comfort and convenience of their own home.”
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services implemented the benefit for Medicare Part B home infusion drugs by requiring a nurse to be physically present in the patient’s home in order for providers to be reimbursed, according to the summary.
However, this current benefit only acknowledges face-to-face visits from a nurse and does not account for the clinical and administrative services that are provided remotely by home infusion clinicians, the summary says, noting that as a result, provider participation in Medicare’s home infusion benefit has decreased.
If enacted, H.R. 4104 would provide technical clarifications to remove the physical presence requirement, ensuring payment regardless of whether a healthcare professional is present in the patient’s home, and would clarify that the full scope of professional services provided in home infusion — including pharmacist services — are part of the reimbursement structure, states the summary.
“The legislation’s common-sense reforms will expand access to home infusion services for Medicare beneficiaries, saving the Medicare program millions of dollars, cutting patient costs, and ensuring people receive safe and adequate care in the comfort of their own home,” said Rep. Dingell. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to move this bipartisan legislation forward so we can effectively care for people and save money by doing so in a home setting.”
The bill, which has been endorsed by the National Home Infusion Therapy Association and Vital Care Infusion Services, is companion legislation to a bill introduced by U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Tim Scott (R-SC) in the U.S. Senate.