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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 DME 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.
Healthcare Automation, Inc. (
www.healthcare-automation.com) provides software and reimbursement services to home health,
hospice agencies, infusion providers and DME providers. Headquartered in Warwick, RI, with
operations in Andover, MA, the company employs software specialists, engineers, clinicians
and reimbursement experts to meet today's homecare needs. To learn more about HAI's software,
HIPAA compliance features or reimbursement services, contact HAI at (800) 738-8850 or
at sales@healthcare-automation.com.
Visit www.healthcare-automation.com for
additional information.
For more information, contact:
Jane Girard
Marketing Manager
(401) 572-3268
jgirard@healthcare-automation.com
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