IDSA Supports Legislation That Would Guarantee Medicare Beneficiaries Access to Home Infusion Therapy Services
One of the Infectious Diseases Society of America’s long-standing legislative priorities has been Medicare coverage for antimicrobial infusion therapy services that are provided in the home-setting, also known as home infusion therapy. Until recently, infusions of drugs and biologicals were almost exclusively provided in the physician office or inpatient settings. This began to change several years ago as health plans began to recognize the potential of home infusion therapies to reduce costs and increase patient satisfaction. The recent emergence of healthcare-associated infections has made coverage of home infusion therapies a patient safety issue as well.
In 2003, the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) mandated coverage for home infusion drugs including antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungal drugs, which are prescribed for patients with serious infections, such as bone and skin infections, heart infections, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections. Unfortunately, CMS’s strict interpretation of the MMA provision did not extend coverage to the services and supplies associated with home infusion therapies, including pharmacy and care coordination services, and medical supplies and equipment.
The Medicare Home Infusion Therapy Coverage Act of 2009
With the reintroduction of home infusion legislation in the new Congress, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) continues its campaign to cover home infusion therapy services under traditional Medicare. The Medicare Home Infusion Therapy Coverage Act of 2009 (S. 254 and H.R. 574) would cover the infusion-related professional services, supplies and equipment under Medicare Part B, while continuing coverage of the infusion drugs under Medicare Part D, the prescription drug benefit. If enacted, this legislation would provide beneficiaries enrolled in traditional Medicare with the same access to home infusion therapies that most privately insured and Medicare Advantage patients have enjoyed for many years.
Home Infusion Informational Documents
IDSA Statement on Reintroduction of Home Infusion Legislation
The Medicare Home Infusion Therapy Coverage Act of 2009: Section-by-Section Summary
Home Infusion Legislative Letters
IDSA Sends Letter Thanking Representative Eliot Engel and other Congressional co-sponsors of H.R. 2567
Coalition of Medical Specialties Urge Congress to Enact H.R. 2567
Coalition Urges Senate Finance Committee Leaders to Make Medicare Coverage of Home Infusions a Legislative Priority
Urge Your Legislators to Support S. 254 and H.R. 574
We need your help to pass the Medicare Home Infusion Therapy Coverage Act of 2009. Please go to IDSA's home infusion therapy grassroots advocacy alert to download a personalized letter that you can fax to your legisators regarding the need to ensure Medicare beneficiaries’ access to antimicrobial infusions at home. There also may be opportunities to arrange meetings with your legislators or their staff to discuss home infusions. Please contact IDSA staff at jscull@idsociety.org or 703-299-5146 if you would like to schedule a face-to-face meeting at your legislators' Capitol Hill or district offices.
Additional Home Infusion Therapy Resources
For information regarding billing and coding for home infusion therapy services, please go to the Home Infusion Therapy Frequently Asked Questions Page or the Practice Management Forms and Documents page. Please alert IDSA staff at jscull@idsociety.org to additional questions that you have, as well as problems that arise so that we may quickly address these issues.