Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act

Bill: 118-s-1976
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced: 2023-06-14
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drug therapy

Health care coverage and access

Health personnel

Home and outpatient care

Medicare
Latest action: action_date: 2023-06-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-06-14
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act&nbsp;</strong></p><p>This bill specifically includes pharmacy services as part of covered home infusion therapy under Medicare. The bill also allows nurses and physician assistants to establish and review the plan of care for home infusion therapy.</p>

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1976 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 14, 2023 Mr. Warner (for himself and Mr. Scott of South Carolina ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify congressional intent and preserve patient access to home infusion therapy under the Medicare program, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act . 2. Preservation of patient access to home infusion therapy under Medicare program (a) Inclusion of pharmacy services Section 1861(iii)(2) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(iii)(2) ) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A), by inserting and pharmacy services after nursing services ; and (2) in subparagraph (B), by inserting , assessments, drug preparation and compounding, coordination and documentation of infusion therapy services in the plan of care after subsection (n)) . (b) Payment Section 1834(u)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(u)(1)(A) ) is amended— (1) in clause (i), by striking clause (iii) and inserting clauses (iii) and (iv) ; (2) in clause (ii) by inserting after the first sentence the following new sentence: For purposes of the previous sentence, a reference to payment to a qualified home infusion therapy supplier for an infusion drug administration calendar day in the home of such individual shall refer to payment for each day on which such a drug was administered to the individual (regardless of whether a qualified home infusion therapy supplier was physically present in the home of such individual on such date). ; and (3) by adding at the end the following new clause: (iv) Special rule when a qualified home infusion therapy supplier not physically present in the individual's home In the case where a qualified home infusion therapy supplier is not physically present in the individual's home on the day the home infusion drug is administered to the individual, the single payment amount under this subsection for items and services described in clause (i) furnished on such day to such individual shall be an amount equal to 50 percent of the amount that would have applied under this subsection for such items and services if such a supplier had been physically present. . (c) Permitting nurse practitioners and physician assistants To establish and review a home infusion plan of care Section 1861(iii)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(iii)(1)(B) ) is amended by striking physician (as defined in subsection (r)(1)) and is periodically reviewed by a physician and inserting physician (as defined in subsection (r)(1)) or a nurse practitioner or physician assistant (as those terms are defined in subsection (aa)(5)) and is periodically reviewed by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant . (d) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2024.