[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 86 (Wednesday, June 15, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3831-S3832]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. SNOWE (for herself, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Isakson, Ms. Klobuchar, 
        and Mr. Inouye):
  S. 1203. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to 
provide for the coverage of home infusion therapy under the Medicare 
Program; to the Committee on Finance.
  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, today I join my colleague on the Senate 
Finance Committee, Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, to introduce 
the Medicare Home Infusion Coverage Act, which will help us improve 
care and reduce costs. We are joined by Senator Isakson, Senator 
Klobuchar, and Senator Inouye, who also recognize the tremendous value 
offered by home infusion therapy.
  Today many serious conditions, including some cancers and drug-
resistant infections--requires the use of infusion therapy. Such 
treatment involves the administration of medication directly into the 
bloodstream via a needle or catheter. Specialized equipment, supplies, 
and professional services, such as sterile drug compounding, care 
coordination, and patient education and monitoring, are part of such 
therapy. The course of infusion treatment often lasts for several hours 
per day over a 6-to-8 week period.
  The regrettable fact is that Medicare patients requiring infusion 
therapy must either bear that cost themselves, or endure 
hospitalization in order to receive coverage. Though Medicare pays for 
infusion drugs, it does not pay for the services, equipment, and 
supplies necessary to safely provide infusion therapy in the home. Not 
surprisingly, even though home infusion therapy may cost as little as 
$100 a day, too few seniors can afford that cost.

[[Page S3832]]

  The result is that patients are hospitalized needlessly, driving 
costs of treatment as much as 10-20 times higher than treatment in the 
home. These unnecessary hospitalizations are not only wasteful to 
Medicare, but they may even place the patient at risk of contracting a 
health care-acquired infection.
  Private coverage for home infusion therapy is commonplace. Private 
plans also recognize that patients benefit from avoiding 
hospitalization. At home they have familiar, comfortable surroundings, 
and family conveniently at hand, no small concerns when fighting a 
serious illness. In fact, according to a June 2010 Government 
Accountability Office report, ``Health insurers contend that the 
benefit has been cost-effective, that is, providing infusion therapy at 
home generally costs less than treatment in other settings. They also 
contend that the benefit is largely free from inappropriate utilization 
and problems in quality of care.''
  By extending coverage of infusion therapy to the home, we will 
correct this unintended and unnecessary gap in Medicare coverage. I 
hope my colleagues will join us in support of this legislation so we 
may further the goals of improving patient safety and reducing our 
escalating health care costs.
                                 ______