Posted on Saturday, December 15, 2018 3:45 PM
CMS will continue to allow home health agencies to provide Part B infusion therapy during the transition period for the new home infusion benefit
The 21st Century Cares Act calls for the creation of a new home therapy infusion benefit under Medicare Part B. CMS has established a new Medicare supplier designation called “Home Infusion Therapy Suppliers” to administer the new benefit. Pharmacies and physicians are considered a qualified home infusion therapy supplier. Home health care and hospice providers are eligible to be accredited as home infusion therapy suppliers when the benefit becomes a permanent program.
Full implementation of this benefit will begin in 2021, once the benefit becomes a permanent program; beneficiaries will not be able to receive Part B home infusion therapy services under the home health benefit. Beneficiaries will only be able to receive the services through a home infusion therapy supplier.
“The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) disagreed with CMS’ interpretation that the 2018 BiBA requires home infusion therapy of Part B drugs be excluded from the home health benefit beginning in 2019. The exclusion from the home health benefit does not begin until 2021 with full implementation of the benefit.
NAHC brought its concern to CMS who ultimately agreed to permit HHAs to provide the professional services associated with Part B infusion drugs during 2019 and 2020 transitional period. However, since certain pharmacies are also eligible to provide the professional services, HHAs might have to coordinate services with home infusion suppliers.”
Source: NAHC Report
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