[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 65 (Thursday, May 12, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S2933]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KERRY (for himself, Mr. Alexander, and Mr. Wyden):
  S. 960. A bill to provide for a study on issues relating to access to 
intravenous immune globulin (IVG) for Medicare beneficiaries in all 
care settings and a demonstration project to examine the benefits of 
providing coverage and payment for items and services necessary to 
administer IVG in the home; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, today along with Senator Alexander I am 
introducing the Medicare IVIG Access Act to help patients with primary 
immunodeficiency diseases, PIDD, who currently face a number of health 
challenges. Today, Medicare beneficiaries with PIDD already have a Part 
B benefit for home-based intravenous immune globulin, IVIG, treatment. 
Unfortunately a gap in coverage exists so no payments are available for 
the items and services necessary to administer the treatment.
  Treatment in the home is more cost effective and also protects the 
patient from the risk of exposure to additional illnesses in other 
health care settings. This is of particular concern to PIDD patients, 
since they already have weakened immune systems. A 2007 report from the 
Department of Health and Human Services, HHS, Office of Inspector 
General and the HHS Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation 
found that problems with payment exist, namely the absence of coverage 
for required items and services associated with IVIG home infusion.
  That is why I have worked with my colleague Senator Alexander to 
introduce the Medicare IVIG Access Act to create a 3-year demonstration 
project to provide for and evaluate the benefits of providing a payment 
for items and services necessary to administer IVIG in the home. The 
bill includes a study to explore issues surrounding IVIG treatment, 
including the impact of the demonstration project on access to care, 
and an analysis of the appropriateness of new payment methodology for 
IVIG treatment in all settings.
  This legislation is supported by a number of organizations including 
the Immune Deficiency Foundation and the Clinical Immunology Society. I 
ask all of my colleagues to support this important legislation.
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