We have some exciting news – as a result of our combined efforts HR 5597: The Medicare IVIG Patient Access Demonstration Project has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives! The bill was introduced by lead sponsor Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) with original co-sponsors Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-PA), Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL), Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE), Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA), Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX), and Rep. Joseph Pitts (R-PA).
For those of you that are not familiar with this legislation, it is a bill that would provide for a three-year Medicare demonstration project to address the inequity of current Medicare law by providing reimbursement for the items and services necessary to administer IVIG in the home. The current Medicare Part B IVIG home benefit for beneficiaries with Primary Immune Deficiency Disease (PIDD) fails to cover the items and services necessary to administer IVIG in the home.
The bill also requires a study to go along with the demonstration project that would analyze the appropriateness of implementing a new Medicare payment methodology for IVIG.
In short, this is a wonderful bill for the PIDD community! Please learn more about the bill and stay updated on new developments by checking out our Policy Matters blog.