WASHINGTON--After asking CMS for a clarification of the "infusion providers" targeted under a recently announced fraud demonstration program, the National Home Infusion Association got the answer it wanted: Home infusion therapy providers are not included.

On Aug. 20, the Department of Health and Human Services, CMS and the Department of Justice announced a two-year demonstration program designed to remove criminal and fraudulent "infusion providers" from the Medicare program.

However, the NHIA said, "the infusion providers in question were not clearly described in the written materials released to the public, and numerous observers assumed that CMS was referring to home infusion therapy providers." The association asked CMS for "an immediate and public clarification" of whether home infusion therapy providers were implicated in the planned demonstration program. (See HomeCare Monday, Aug. 27.)

In response, CMS amended a fact sheet making it clear that the demonstration program does not involve providers who offer infusion in the home setting. Rather, it will be limited to clinics and solo practitioners in South Florida providing intravenous infusion therapy and/or intramuscular and subcutaneous injections in the office setting only.

"We commend CMS for responding quickly to clarify that home infusion therapy providers are not involved in this demonstration program," said Russell Bodoff, NHIA executive director, in a press release about the clarification. The release also said NHIA "strongly supports the passage of H.R. 2567, the Medicare Home Infusion Therapy Coverage Act of 2007, which would provide for meaningful coverage of home infusion therapy, as well as the development of essential quality standards."

View the revised fact sheet on the infusion therapy fraud demonstration.