COVID-19 and Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy
Authors: Pankaj Mathur
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2021)

LettersJanuary 2021COVID-19 and Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial TherapyPankaj Mathur, MDPankaj Mathur, MDUniversity of Arkansas Medical Sciences and Medical Center, Little Rock, ArkansasAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L20-1346 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Hamad and colleagues' commentary (1) highlights the dilemma we internists face in discharging patients to home with outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT). The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission is a nonpartisan legislative agency that provides the U.S. Congress with analysis and policy advice on Medicare. They did a study in 2012 and found that home infusion drug coverage is provided by either Medicare Part B or D (2).Medicare Part B covers some home infusion drugs through the durable medical equipment benefit, but they usually need to be administered via infusion pump and medically necessary. Examples of such ...References1. Hamad Y, Joynt Maddox, Powderly WG. COVID-19 and outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy: the need to protect vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries. Ann Intern Med. 2020;173:383-4. doi:10.7326/M20-1774 LinkGoogle Scholar2. Medicare coverage of and payment for home infusion therapy. In: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission. Report to the Congress: Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System. Medicare Payment Advisory Commission:171-208. Google Scholar3. Kaiser Family Foundation. Medicare Advantage 2020 spotlight: first look. 24 October 2019. Accessed at www.kff.org/report-section/medicare-advantage-2020-spotlight-first-look-data-note on 2 December 2020. Google Scholar4. Dalovisio JR, Juneau J, Baumgarten K, et al. Financial impact of a home intravenous antibiotic program on a Medicare managed care program. Clin Infect Dis. 2000;30:639-42. [PMID: 10770722] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Mitchell ED, Czoski Murray, Meads D, et al. Clinical and cost-effectiveness, safety and acceptability of community intravenous antibiotic service models: CIVAS systematic review. BMJ Open. 2017;7:e013560. [PMID: 28428184] doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013560 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Pankaj Mathur, MDAffiliations: University of Arkansas Medical Sciences and Medical Center, Little Rock, ArkansasDisclosures: The author has disclosed no conflicts of interest. The form can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=L20-1346. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoCOVID-19 and Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy: The Need to Protect Vulnerable Medicare Beneficiaries Yasir Hamad , Karen E. Joynt Maddox , and William G. Powderly COVID-19 and Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy Yasir Hamad , Karen E. Joynt-Maddox , William G. Powderly Metrics January 2021Volume 174, Issue 1Page: 141-142KeywordsAntibioticsAntimicrobialsAntiviralsCOVID-19DrugsHealth careInpatientsMedicareOutpatientsTotal parenteral nutrition ePublished: 19 January 2021 Issue Published: January 2021 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2021 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...