Statement on the Introduction of the Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act

By Soumi Saha, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, Premier Inc.

Premier applauds Senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and Tim Scott (R-SC) and Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI) for their bipartisan and bicameral leadership in introducing The Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act (S. 1976 / H.R. 4104) to expand access to home infusion services for Medicare beneficiaries.

As the United States braces for an aging population and the need to expand care beyond the four walls of hospitals, access to home infusion services for Medicare beneficiaries who are susceptible to infection and other adverse clinical outcomes is critical. The home is often the optimal site of care for patients requiring infusion drugs, where unnecessary travel and germ exposure is limited, cost is minimized, and patients' choice is respected. Yet, a recent CMS report shows that utilization of home infusion services by Medicare beneficiaries remains low, shining a light on the limitations of the current benefit.

The Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act would provide adequate reimbursement for home infusion services to create a viable, sustainable, and essential healthcare service that ensures patients have access to high quality, cost-effective treatment in their preferred setting.

Premier calls on Congress to pass The Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act expeditiously to ensure vulnerable patients have continued access to crucial home infusion services.