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LEGISLATION RE-INTRODUCED BY SENATE AND HOUSE CALLS FOR MEDICARE COVERAGE OF HOME-BASED INFUSION THERAPIES CURRENTLY DENIED TO BENEFICIARIES
(January 16, 2009)
Legislation Would Improve the Quality of Care to Medicare Patients Needing Intravenous Medications While Lowering Cost to Nation’s Healthcare System
Washington, DC – The National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) today applauded Senators Blanche L. Lincoln (D-AR) and Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME) and Representatives Eliot L. Engel (D-NY-17) and Timothy F. Murphy (R-PA-18) for their leadership in re-introducing legislation that would provide Americans on Medicare with much needed access to high-quality, life-saving home infusion therapy denied to them under the current program.
The “Medicare Home Infusion Therapy Coverage Act of 2009”, introduced concurrently in the Senate (S.254) and in the House (H.R. 574) would close a gap that currently exists in coverage where the medicines used in infusions to treat serious diseases are covered, but not the medical services, supplies or equipment needed to deliver the home therapy. The proposed legislation calls for coverage of infusion-related services, supplies, and equipment under Medicare Part B. Coverage of the drugs used in infusions would remain under Medicare Part D.
The lack of coverage forces patients to remain in the hospital or nursing home longer than necessary to receive their treatments, compromising the health of the patient and putting an economic strain on the nation’s healthcare system. “Home infusion therapy is covered by private insurers because they see the tremendous value, and Medicare beneficiaries deserve no less,” added Senator Lincoln. “I urge my colleagues in the Senate to support this legislation, which would lower costs and improve the quality of life for patients who want to have access to these therapies in their homes. We need a system that is efficient, geared toward the real needs of individual patients, and cost effective.”
“Unnecessary institutional treatment simply makes no sense when patients can be treated in the comfort of their home – and at a lower cost to Medicare,” said Senator Olympia Snowe.“The proposed legislation would correct the unintended and unnecessary gap in Medicare coverage,” said Representative Engel. “Patients needing intravenous medications should be allowed to get treatment in the comfort of their own homes.”“Forcing Medicare beneficiaries into hospitals and nursing homes for treatment can be a great inconvenience to both patients and their caregivers and is certainly far more costly,” said Representative Murphy.
Infusion therapy involves the administration of medication through a needle or catheter, and is prescribed for many serious diseases when only infusible drugs are the appropriate treatment. Diseases commonly requiring infusion therapy include infections unresponsive to oral antibiotics, cancer and cancer-related pain, dehydration, gastrointestinal diseases or disorders that prevent normal functioning of the gastrointestinal system, congestive heart failure, Crohn's Disease, hemophilia, immune deficiencies, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
“This combined effort by both the Senate and House emphasizes the significance of this piece of legislation to both the patient and our healthcare system,” said Russell Bodoff, President, NHIA. “As the 111th Congress addresses healthcare reform there is no better example of a positive change that can be made that will save the Medicare system significant amounts of money while ensuring Medicare beneficiaries receive the same access to quality home infusion therapy enjoyed by private sector patients.
The “Medicare Home Infusion Therapy Coverage Act of 2009” is co-sponsored by Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and in the House by Representatives Tammy Baldwin, (D-WI), and Kay Granger (R-TX). The Senate bill was referred to the Finance Committee, and the House bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy & Commerce and the House Committee on Ways & Means.
The National Home Infusion Association, based in Alexandria, Virginia, is a trade association that represents and advances the interests of organizations that provide infusion and specialized pharmacy products and services to the entire spectrum of home-based patients. For more information, visit the association at www.nhia.org