Industry Notes:
Home Infusion Could Save Medicare Money, GAO Says
Published on Tue May 18, 2010
Private sector insurance often opts for home infusion. Your non-homebound patient business could increase, if Congress takes a cue from the Government Accountability Office. The Department of Health and Human Services should conduct a study analyzing potential Medicare savings due to covering home infusion for non-homebound patients, the GAO says in a new report. The study should also look at quality issues, program integrity concerns, and program costs. Medicare could learn something from private sector plans on this topic, the GAO suggests. Nearly one out of five Medicare Advantage enrollees has comprehensive coverage for home infusion therapy regardless of homebound status, the report notes. The report is online at
www.gao.gov/cgibin/getrpt?GAO-10-426.