According to a Feb. 7 announcement, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has renewed the Joint Commission’s deeming authority for home infusion therapy, effective Dec. 15, 2023 through Dec. 15, 2029, as announced in the Dec. 14, 2023, Federal Register.
The announcement says that “Home infusion therapy suppliers that want to obtain Medicare reimbursement for the nursing component of that service must be accredited by an accrediting organization that has been awarded deeming authority for home infusion therapy by CMS. There is no state survey option for home infusion therapy suppliers, so accreditation on its own is the only means of satisfying the reimbursement requirement. If organizations are not accredited by an approved accrediting organization, they will not qualify for or receive reimbursement from CMS for the nursing component of the home infusion therapy service.”
Further, “Home infusion therapy involves professional services (including nursing services) provided in accordance with a physician-established plan of care that describes the type, amount, and duration of infusion therapy services to be furnished. A qualified home infusion therapy supplier provides infusion therapy to patients needing it for acute or chronic conditions, offers patient training and education, and remote monitoring services 24/7.”
Organizations that aren’t currently accredited but interested in Medicare reimbursement for the nursing element of the service are required to participate in an unannounced home care survey and achieve “Accredited” status before submitting requests for reimbursement.
The Joint Commission has the announcement.
