Home Infusion Therapy is a new enrollment under the Medicare traditional health care program. Although HIT has been in temporary status during the past year, with limited enrollment opportunities to existing DME and Pharmacy providers, January 2021 will usher in the opportunity to all providers who wish to become a home infusion therapy provider. The Medicare HIT services benefit covers the professional services, including nursing services, delivered in accordance with the plan of care, patient training and education (not otherwise covered under the DME benefit), remote monitoring, and monitoring services for the provision of HIT and home infusion drugs furnished by a qualified HIT supplier.
CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) has established multiple policies and requirements for participation in the new program. The prospective HIT supplier is not required to directly provide all components of the new program. Regulation allows for subcontracts with a pharmacy, physician and/or other qualified supplier or provider of medical services, in order to meet the program requirements and gain accreditation. Subcontracts with other organizations must be completed and submitted to the AO in order to earn HIT supplier accreditation.
Who can become a HIT provider?
· Physicians
· DME providers
· Pharmacies
· Home Health Agencies
This is especially important to home health agencies because January 1, 2021 will also limit Medicare coverage for home infusion as a covered benefit under home health services. Initially, the exclusion from coverage only applies to the approved drugs included in the Home Health Final Rule (CMS-1730-F); however, as more HIT providers are enrolled, CMS expects to role more routine infusion drugs into the coverage. CMS is encouraging interested home health providers to enroll now. Failure to do so will greatly limit the scope of infusion services through the traditional home health service. Don’t get left behind and lose the ability to provide home infusion under your home health license and certification!