Home Infusion Therapy — Registered Nurse Form
Home Infusion Therapy — Registered Nurse
Last Review Date: November 14, 2025
Number: MG.MM.ME.74C6Medical Guideline Disclaimer Property of EmblemHealth. All rights reserved. The treating physician or primary care provider must submit to EmblemHealth the clinical evidence that the patient meets the criteria for the treatment or surgical procedure. Without this documentation and information, EmblemHealth will not be able to properly review the request for prior authorization. The clinical review criteria expressed below reflects how EmblemHealth determines whether certain services or supplies are medically necessary. EmblemHealth established the clinical review criteria based upon a review of currently available clinical information (including clinical outcome studies in the peer reviewed published medical literature, regulatory status of the technology, evidence-based guidelines of public health and health research agencies, evidence-based guidelines and positions of leading national health professional organizations, views of physicians practicing in relevant clinical areas, and other relevant factors). EmblemHealth expressly reserves the right to revise these conclusions as clinical information changes and welcomes further relevant information. Each benefit program defines which services are covered. The conclusion that a particular service or supply is medically necessary does not constitute a representation or warranty that this service or supply is covered and/or paid for by EmblemHealth, as some programs exclude coverage for services or supplies that EmblemHealth considers medically necessary. If there is a discrepancy between this guideline and a member's benefits program, the benefits program will govern. In addition, coverage may be mandated by applicable legal requirements of a state, the Federal Government or the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for Medicare and Medicaid members. All coding and web site links are accurate at time of publication. EmblemHealth Services Company LLC, (“EmblemHealth”) has adopted the herein policy in providing management, administrative and other services to EmblemHealth Plan, Inc., EmblemHealth Insurance Company, EmblemHealth Services Company, LLC and Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York (HIP) related to health benefit plans offered by these entities. All of the aforementioned entities are affiliated companies under common control of EmblemHealth Inc. Definitions Home infusion therapy is the administration of prescription drugs through the intravenous, intraspinal, epidural or subcutaneous routes. Home infusion is prescribed by a provider and supervised by a qualified health professional. The service is rendered in either a temporary or permanent residence used as the member’s home, and excludes hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, clinics, infusion suites and/or provider offices.
Home infusion categorizations
Self-infusion
Drugs that do not require home nursing supervision, but can be administered by the member
and/or family.
Limited
nursing
supervision
Some drugs require nursing supervision for initiation of therapy, but the member and/or family can be
trained in administration. Vendor is expected to assess ability to learn and / or train prior to accepting
on service.
Intermittent home health visits may be required for ongoing monitoring. Drugs in this category include,
but not limited to:
IV hydration therapy for hyperemesis gravidarum (in lieu of hospitalization), or for rehydration
of a chronically ill member maintained at home. (Note: IV hydration provided as part of a
continuous administration of an IV drug (e.g., anti-emetic) is considered an integral part of
the drug treatment and it is not separately reimbursable)
Antibiotics
Total parenteral nutrition (TPN)
Home infusion pain management for chronic disease states (e.g., cancer, AIDS or other end
stage disease)
Chemotherapy
Note: Central catheter care is an appropriate registered nursing home service.
Intensive
nursing
supervision
Services requiring continuous monitoring for adverse reactions and/or the presence of a registered
nurse in the home until the infusion is complete.
Guideline Home infusion therapy services provided by a registered nurse (RN) are medically necessary when the following criteria are met; all:
- Infusion services must be prescribed by a provider who has a current DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) licensure as part of a treatment plan for a covered medical condition.
- The drug must be medically necessary to treat member’s medical condition and be covered under the member’s policy. (Note: Home infusion services to administer an investigational or an otherwise excluded drug are non-covered)
- Administration of the drug via infusion must be medically necessary. Home infusion services for drugs which can be administered orally, topically, or self-injected and achieve the same or equivalent therapeutic effect are not medically necessary. Administration in the home must be safe and medically appropriate. Drugs which are hazardous and require extensive monitoring should be administered in a facility that has appropriate provisions for acute intervention. Once the home setting is established as clinically appropriate, then nursing visits are allowed as follows:
- Low intensity a. Initially — 2–10 visits in the first 2 weeks for training (maximum 2 hours per visit [99601]) and additional nursing hours (99602) based on length and frequency of the ordered IV medication (i.e., antibiotics, TPN, catheter care, hydration, chemotherapy or pain management. b. Subsequent — 1–3 visits per week (maximum 2 hours per visit (99601) per week for the continuation of ordered IV infusion.
- High intensity
One visit per day of infusion (maximum 2 hours per visit [99601]) and additional hours (99602)
as ordered with prolonged RN supervision.
(Note: RN is expected to remain in the home for both the initiation and completion of the infusion requiring the
high-tech RN home services in lieu of the hospital/facility setting)
a. RN administration of infusion
i. Blood products, up to 4 hours per infusion, or according to physician provider- ordered length of infusion. ii. IV subcutaneous immunoglobulins (SCIG), immune suppressant therapy, enzyme replacement therapy, factor products or other medication that requires supervision and monitoring during the entire infusion. iii. Administration of any IV medication that requires monitoring for side effects or complications. b. Daily RN visits (maximum 2 hours per visit [99601]) (i.e., IV dobutamine or for IV access and administration of medications listed above). c. Additional hours (99602) commensurate with provider-ordered length of infusion.
Self-infusion — does not require nursing supervision in the home but can be administered by the
patient and/or family
a. 1–2 visits (maximum 2 hours per visit [99601]) for training, SCIG, factor products and
new order of enteral formula or other treatment where member and family are
independent with administration.
Limitations/Exclusions
- Requests for other or additional nursing services will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
- Home infusion services are not considered medically necessary when the above criteria are not
met or when any of the following apply:
a. Anticoagulants — Home IV infusion of heparin for thromboembolic disease is considered investigational. IV heparin or other anticoagulants used for line maintenance are considered an integral part of home infusion services and additional reimbursement is not allowed. Self-administered subcutaneous heparin or enoxaparin (Lovenox) injections do not require limited nursing services.
b. Short term IV pain management post-operatively or for acute episodes of pain (e.g., following tonsillectomy) is not considered medically necessary in the home. (Member should be weaned from IV infusion prior to discharge from a facility) Applicable Procedure Codes 99601 Home infusion/specialty drug administration, per visit (up to 2 hours) 99602 Home infusion/specialty drug administration, per visit (up to 2 hours); each additional hour
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