DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BioScrip, Inc. (NASDAQ:BIOS), a leading national provider of infusion and home care management solutions, announced today it has joined a newly established coalition, Keep My Infusion Care at Home, which spans several leading industry constituents working diligently to persuade the U.S. Congress to fix a new law that has caused critically ill, vulnerable Medicare patients to lose access to home infusion care. The mission of Keep My Infusion Care at Home is to encourage those affected by this new law, known as the 21st Century Cures Act, to join in advocacy efforts.
The 21st Century Cures Act, which promises to help millions of patients via a variety of wide-ranging measures, also includes important provisions that impact patients requiring home infusion therapy for the treatment of advanced heart failure and other conditions. Effective January 1, 2017, the Cures Act included a provision changing the payment structure for certain infusion drugs under the Part B Durable Medical Equipment (DME) benefit. This created a dramatic reduction in reimbursement that effectively covers only the drug costs and provides no compensation for clinical services necessary to administer the infusion therapy in the home. While a separate provision in the law does provide for clinical services payment, it does not take effect until 2021, creating a four-year gap for home infusion companies to receive any payment for services.
As a sponsor, BioScrip joined Option Care, a founding member of Keep My Infusion Care at Home. The coalition, which includes patients, family members, caregivers, healthcare providers and related industry organizations, is reaching out to legislators to advocate for a change to the law to ensure that Medicare patients have access to high quality home infusion care to support their health and sustain their quality of life.
The 21st Century Cures Act stands to impact the lives of nearly six million high-risk, heart failure patients across the nation currently benefitting from receiving inotrope infusion care in the home. The bill significantly disrupts patient care as home infusion providers -- who deliver care similar to that of a hospital but in the preferred-home setting -- will be forced to transfer patients receiving care in the home to a hospital or post-acute type care center, thereby actually costing the healthcare system considerably more dollars and further taxing its resources.
Home infusion care reaps significant savings for the system and brings patients many advantages. For example, an average monthly cost for a patient receiving inotrope therapy in a hospital setting costs $90,000 versus approximately $10,000 per month at home.
Keep My Infusion Care at Home is urging legislators to close the four-year gap in care by advancing the implementation date for the new clinical services payment.
“The Cures legislation has significantly undermined the importance, value and benefits of home infusion. It has caused patients’ lives to be at risk by taking away care that has proven to increase quality of life and survival rates. We intend to advocate for a home infusion provision for as long as it takes to ensure our patients receive the care they deserve,” explained Dan Greenleaf, president and chief executive officer at BioScrip.
In addition to BioScrip and Option Care, Keep My Infusion Care at Home sponsors include the National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) and other leading industry providers.
For more information, please visit KeepMyInfusionCareAtHome.org. Patients and families are encouraged to join the effort by sharing their stories showing about how this law affects real patients, and writing their congressmen to encourage them to amend the law. Organizations interested in joining the coalition should email info@keepmyinfusioncareathome.org.
About BioScrip
BioScrip, Inc. is a leading national provider of infusion and home care management solutions. BioScrip partners with physicians, hospital systems, skilled nursing facilities, healthcare payers, and pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide patients access to post-acute care services. BioScrip operates with a commitment to bring customer-focused pharmacy and related healthcare infusion therapy services into the home or alternate-site setting. By collaborating with the full spectrum of healthcare professionals and the patient, BioScrip provides cost-effective care that is driven by clinical excellence, customer service, and values that promote positive outcomes and an enhanced quality of life for those it serves.
