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PubMed1989

Pharmacist's role in home i.v. therapy.

The pharmacist's role in home i.v. therapy is described, and its relationship to the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act is discussed. Congress, in enacting the catastrophic coverage act, has recognized the need for pharmaceutical services in the provision of home i.v. therapy. Pharmacists must recognize their responsibilities in providing these services. These responsibilities include ensuring the quality of drug therapy, monitoring patient progress, advocating cost-effective therapy, and communicating with local health-care providers. Pharmacists should also educate hospital administrators about the effects of the act, suggest how the hospital can best provide home i.v. therapy, assume responsibility for overseeing the home i.v. therapy process, and help ensure compliance with the interpretive regulations of the act. Other responsibilities of pharmacists include educating potential beneficiaries about the need to pay the coinsurance and premiums for catastrophic coverage and advocating home i.v. therapy as a reasonable alternative to hospitalization. Pharmacists should become familiar with the Standards for the Accreditation of Home Care adopted by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations because these standards may be considered when the conditions for provider participation are established by the Department of Health and Human Services. The home i.v. therapy provision of the catastrophic coverage act presents challenges for pharmacists. Appropriate pharmacist involvement should help reduce costs and ensure optimal health care.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed1988

Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988.

The Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988 is described, and implications for pharmacy are discussed. The Catastrophic Coverage Act, which will be phased in between 1989 and 1993, provides for the following benefits for Medicare beneficiaries: Under Part A, a single annual deductible and an unlimited number of days for inpatient care and covered services and improved benefits for hospice and skilled-nursing-care facilities; under Part B, a limit on out-of-pocket expenses, improved home-care benefits (including home i.v. therapy), and an outpatient prescription benefit. Long-term care was not addressed in this legislation; benefits for extended-care services were expanded, but they apply only to an acute illness. The new benefit for outpatient prescriptions provides for payment for both the drug product and professional services by the pharmacy. The benefits will be financed through a supplemental premium to be paid by all individuals who are eligible for Part A. The pharmacy profession should work with the Department of Health and Human Services in implementing the Act to ensure that this opportunity results in improved patient care through the wise application of pharmaceutical services.

Catastrophic Illness↗