VNS Health Total: Home Infusion Therapy

Some medical conditions require a short-term or long-term infusion of medications. Infusion therapy requires needle- and line-guided access to veins (intravenous) or tissues beneath the skin (subcutaneous) for medication delivery.  The components needed to perform home infusion include the drug itself, equipment, and supplies.

Drugs that are commonly administered by home infusion are:

• antibiotics

• antivirals

• biologicals

• immune globulins

• inotropes

• fluid volume or hydration solutions

Equipment includes an automated programmable pump that delivers the drug.

Supplies are those things that carry the drug from the pump to the body, such as peripheral venous access kits, tubing, and occlusive dressings.

Home infusion therapy is ordered by a provider and coordinated with a pharmacy (for delivery of the drug) and a home infusion therapy service (for the nurse to set up and administer the drug). Services include, but are not limited to:

• Professional services, including nursing services, furnished in accordance with the plan of care

• Patient and caregiver training and education on the drug and the infusion process

• Remote patient monitoring (restrictions may apply)

• Monitoring services for the provision of home infusion therapy and home infusion drugs furnished by a qualified home infusion therapy supplier