ALEXANDRIA, Virginia—The National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) said there is growing bipartisan momentum for the Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act, with 10 new cosponsors signing onto the bill recently.
Immediately prior to NHIA’s annual member visits to Capitol Hill,
Reps. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Paul Tonko (D-NY) joined the legislation in anticipation of meetings with home infusion providers, suppliers and patients during NHIA's annual member visits to Capitol Hill. Since the organization's Advocacy in Action Day, several others have signed on as sponsors, including:
- Danny Davis (D-IL)
- Madeleine Dean (D-PA)
- Ted Lieu (D-CA)
- Doris Matsui (D-CA)
- Blake Moore (R-UT)
- Burgess Owens (R-UT)
- Darren Soto (D-FL)
- Greg Stanton (D-AZ)
Advocates say the signons reflect a growing recognition that the existing Medicare home infusion benefit isn't working.
“Home infusion is a proven, patient-preferred model that helps keep people out of the hospital while lowering total health care costs,” said Connie Sullivan, president and CEO of NHIA. “The fact that nine members of Congress have joined this bill in just a few weeks is a direct reflection of the stories our members and their patients shared on Advocacy in Action Day. Their voices are driving this momentum.”
NHIA members held more than 130 meetings with lawmakers and staff from over 25 states in early November to highlight the Medicare home infusion coverage gap and the need to modernize the benefit. Participants emphasized how the legislation would better recognize the pharmacy and clinical services that make home infusion possible and expand access to IV anti-infective treatments for as many as one million Medicare beneficiaries each year.
“The power behind this effort is the real-world experience our members bring to Capitol Hill,” Sullivan added. “They see every day how much better patients do when they can receive care at home, and they are making that case directly to policymakers. We are encouraged by this growing support and will continue working with Congress to ensure Medicare beneficiaries have timely access to home infusion services.”
The Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act would modernize Medicare’s home infusion therapy benefit by closing existing coverage gaps and recognizing pharmacy professional services essential to the safe delivery of care in the home as well as expanding care for Medicare beneficiaries who require IV anti-infective treatments. By aligning Medicare policy with the commercial insurance model, the legislation would ensure patients have access to home infusion services when clinically appropriate and reduce overall health care costs by allowing more patients to receive therapy in the most appropriate and cost-effective setting.