Healthcare Automation - Home Infusion Industry Advocate
Warwick, RI (October 5, 2005) - In support of its clients and the home infusion industry, Healthcare Automation's CEO, Ken Pereira, and Customer Relations Manager Joanie Zavala, attended the first NHIA Legislative Conference held in Washington, DC, Sept. 19-20, 2005. There were approximately 100 attendees representing various home infusion and HME companies throughout the United States. The goal of the conference was to educate Congress on the problems related to home infusion under Medicare Part D, which goes into effect January 2006, and to gain support for the industry's Part B solution.
Under the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit, most infusion drugs will be covered, however home infusion services (supplies and equipment necessary to provide infusion therapy) will not be covered unless the patient has another insurer that will cover these expenses. Therefore, infusion pharmacies will not be able to provide these therapies because their costs will not be reimbursed. As a result, most Medicare beneficiaries with serious infections, cancer, and other medical conditions will either remain in costly in-patient settings, or will receive high-tech I.V. drugs without clinical support and the supplies and equipment they need. This will pose serious risks of medication errors, infections and other complications for these beneficiaries.
HAI was the only software and reimbursement industry representative at the conference, joining forces with other NHIA members and home infusion stakeholders in a lobbying effort on Capitol Hill. They met with various Representatives and Senators on Sept. 20 asking for their support in contacting CMS to urge them to consolidate coverage for home infusion therapies under Medicare Part B. The CMS Administrator has the authority to implement this change without legislation.
The team of professionals at Healthcare Automation is committed to supporting its clients and the members of NHIA in all efforts to provide high quality, cost effective, safe standards to their patients.
About Healthcare Automation, Inc.
Healthcare Automation provides software to home health, hospice agencies, infusion providers and HME providers. Headquartered in Cranston, RI, the company employs software specialists, engineers, clinicians and reimbursement experts to meet today's homecare needs. To learn more about HAI's software, contact HAI at (800) 738-8850 or at sales@healthcare-automation.com.
For more information, contact:
Adriana Aiken
(401) 572-3268
aaiken@healthcare-automation.com |
